PARSIPPANY — The Township Council is scheduled to take up a $55,225,000 bond anticipation note, a $2,000,000 appropriation for water tank improvements, and a series of new ordinances during its regular meeting Tuesday night, September 15. The meeting takes place at 7:00 p.m. at 1001 Parsippany Boulevard, in the Council Chambers.

Click here to download the agenda.

Among the most significant items on the consent agenda is a bond anticipation note combining several notes into a single package totaling $55,225,000, made up of $4,100,000 for general improvements, $30,725,000 for the water utility, $18,600,000 for the sewer utility, and $1,800,000 for the golf utility.

The council will also decide whether to appropriate $2,000,000 from the township’s PFAS litigation fund to pay for the water tank improvements project.

Another consent agenda item authorizes the Planning Board to conduct a preliminary investigation of 5 Wood Hollow Road to determine whether the property qualifies as a non-condemnation redevelopment area.

The council is also expected to formally adopt a Vision Zero initiative and create a task force to draft an action plan aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and severe injuries.

Additional consent agenda items include:

• Release of performance guarantees for the Lexica development on Block 136, Lots 44 and 76
• An agreement between the township and the Police Athletic League of Parsippany-Troy Hills for recreation services
• An extension of Knoll Tennis Club, LLC’s contract to operate the indoor tennis facility at the Parsippany Community Center
• Purchase of new public works equipment, including a Bobcat compact track loader, five Leach rearload packer bodies, and a street sweeper

The council will also hold a public hearing and vote on final passage of an ordinance amending the township’s rules on stopping and standing on certain streets, which passed first reading in August.

Six new ordinances are up for introduction on first reading, including measures amending the township’s dog licensing rules, fire prevention code, construction code fees for the plumbing and electrical subcodes, and Council rules of procedure.

In non-consent business, the council will consider a new limousine license for Mount Everest Limo Service, LLC.

The council is also expected to approve payment of the September 25 payroll, estimated at $1,650,000, and a bills list of $2,931,067.89.

PARSIPPANY — The Township Council is scheduled to consider a redevelopers agreement and a related sanitary sewer easement agreement with Toll NJ I, LLC for the property at 4 Gatehall Drive during its regular meeting Tuesday night, September 15.

The agreements cover Block 175, Lot 52, the site of a 178-unit townhome development the Planning Board approved in April. The project calls for 25 residential buildings containing a mix of 142 market-rate units and 36 affordable housing units, aligning with the township’s Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan.

Both items appear on the council’s consent agenda, along with several dozen other resolutions expected to be approved without separate discussion.

PARSIPPANY — District 15Fifteen will host a series of Sunday artisan markets this fall, featuring local makers, shopping, food and live music at the luxury community.

Brilliant Conventions is organizing four markets, held Sundays, September 20, October 4, October 11 and October 18, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at District 15Fifteen, 1515 Route 10 East in Parsippany.

The markets are free to attend, with free parking available, and are pet friendly.

Organizers said spaces are still available for local makers and food vendors interested in participating. Those interested can email [email protected] or visit linktr.ee/brilliantconventions for more information.

PARSIPPANY — Wildlife Preserves Inc. will host a free neighborhood block party next weekend at the main entrance to its Troy Meadows Nature Preserve.

The Troy Meadows Neighborhood Block Party will take place Sunday, September 27, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 250 Troy Meadow Road in Parsippany.

Organizers said the event gives neighbors a chance to mingle, learn about the preserve and its upcoming Environmental Education Center, offer feedback, and share what kinds of events they would like to see in the future. Free sandwiches from Gene’s Deli in Lake Hiawatha, non-alcoholic drinks and games will be available, along with a guided nature walk at 4:00 p.m.

Residents are welcome to stay for the whole afternoon or stop by briefly to pick up a trail map and plan a future visit. Walk-ins are welcome, though organizers are requesting RSVPs by September 20 for an accurate head count.

Questions about the event can be directed to [email protected].

PARSIPPANY — Cheshire Home, a Florham Park-based nonprofit that provides residential rehabilitation for young adults with spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions, will host a Bingo Night fundraiser on Thursday, November 12, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Parsippany Police Athletic League, 33 Baldwin Road.

A happy hour will run beforehand from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with guests welcome to bring their own beverages.

Tickets cost $40 and include ten games of bingo, with four boards per game. The evening will also feature prizes and a 50/50 cash raffle.

Proceeds from the event will support the programs and services Cheshire Home offers to residents with spinal cord injuries as they continue their journey toward independence.

Registration is available online at www.cheshirehome.org/bingo.

When preparing to sell a property, many homeowners ask the same initial question: Do I really need to hire a listing agent?

Of course, a “For Sale by Owner” transaction is appealing for its own reasons, and bypassing a real estate agent means avoiding commission fees. However, For the vast majority of sellers, working with a professional yields a higher final offer and a significantly faster sale.

Here’s why.

What a Listing Agent Does

The public perception of a real estate agent’s job often stops at placing a sign on the lawn and hosting an open house. However, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes, from accessing existing buyer networks to producing professional marketing materials.

While it is natural to want to save costs in the current housing market, attempting a do-it-yourself sale frequently results in the property sitting stagnant.

For one, homeowners often see their homes through a sentimental lens, which can lead to flubs in pricing strategy. If a home is priced too high, it can sit for months. If it’s priced too low, the seller risks losing equity.

A listing agent can help sellers avoid pricing mistakes by providing objective analysis based on comparable homes. This can lead to an exact listing price that’s low enough to spark interest but high enough to maintain equity.

Marketing and Market Reach

The starkest difference between selling solo and hiring a professional is market exposure. A homeowner might list their house on a few public websites and share it on social media. This relies entirely on passive discovery. In other words, waiting for a buyer to stumble across your listing.

Top-tier real estate teams operate differently, functioning more like specialized marketing agencies. Rather than hoping buyers find a home, they actively match the property with individuals who are currently looking. This can help net hundreds, if not thousands, more than a seller would otherwise get.

According to Rob Dekanski, founder of real estate brokerage The Robert Dekanski Team, a typical independent agent will spend around $250 a month in marketing. Larger real estate firms, on the other hand, will invest heavily in drone shots, professional staging, virtual tours, and direct mail to ensure that a listing gets noticed.

For homeowners seeking a clear strategy, consulting resources published by a premier NJ real estate agent provides a critical roadmap to understanding how presentation drives final value.

Competition and Negotiation

Without significant market reach, an independently listed home usually receives fewer showings and fewer offers. This lack of competition gives the buyer all the leverage.

According to Dekanski, sellers who don’t access high-quality marketing and negotiation services can inadvertently leave between $25,000 and $70,000 on the table during a transaction. Competition among buyers puts the ball back in the seller’s court, and allows them to exert a bit more control over pricing and terms than they otherwise would be able to.

Beyond that, negotiations are often complex and tricky things to navigate. In many cases, a homebuyer will be operating through their own real estate agent. If a homeowner is selling their property themselves, then this means they’ll be negotiating with a seasoned professional who is advocating for the buyer’s terms.

An experienced real estate agent can help navigate these tricky waters by protecting the seller’s interests, especially during the back-and-forth negotiation process.

The Verdict

Technically, a homeowner looking to sell their property does not need to work through a real estate agent. However, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to, from better pricing to hands-on support during the negotiation phase.

It’s obviously a tradeoff. Although real estate agents take a commission and charge fees, the alternative is an often lower final selling price and a more prolonged negotiation and selling process.

Whether or not these tradeoffs are worth it to you depends largely on your circumstances and needs. But in the current New Jersey housing market, which remains seller-friendly, a real estate agent might just be able to help you make the most out of the current market conditions.

PARSIPPANY — Republican congressional candidate Joe Hathaway will hold a meet-and-greet event in Parsippany later this month, according to his campaign.

The event is scheduled for Thursday, September 24, at 6:00 p.m. at Venture X Parsippany, located at 8 Campus Drive, South Arbor Circle South.

Hathaway, the former mayor of Randolph Township and current councilman, is the Republican nominee in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, which includes Parsippany-Troy Hills.

He is seeking a rematch against Democratic U.S. Representative Analilia Mejia, who defeated him in a special general election held in April to fill the seat vacated when Mikie Sherrill resigned from Congress after being elected governor. The general election rematch will take place on November 3.

Before launching his congressional campaign, Hathaway served on the Randolph Township Council before being elected mayor. According to his campaign, his priorities include lowering healthcare costs, easing the path to home ownership for first-time buyers, and investing in transportation infrastructure, including the Gateway Tunnel project between New Jersey and New York.

Editor’s Note: This article covers a publicly announced campaign event. Parsippany Focus provides neutral coverage of candidates from all parties; candidates interested in similar coverage may contact the newsroom.

PARSIPPANY — A Superior Court judge has ruled that a lease former Mayor James Barberio executed on behalf of the township during his final days in office is void and unenforceable, finding that he lacked the legal authority to sign it without Township Council approval.

The ruling, issued September 11 by the Honorable Noah Franzblau, P.J. Cv. (Acting), in Morris County Superior Court, resolves the central claim in a lawsuit filed by Nicholas Neglia against the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills over a lease for a township-owned property known as Watnong Gardens.

According to court documents, Barberio, the sitting mayor at the time, lost his re-election bid to Mayor Pulkit Desai in the November 2025 general election. Barberio challenged the election result, and that challenge was dismissed in December.. Despite the election loss, on December 30, 2025, while still mayor, Barberio executed a lease permitting Neglia to reside at Watnong Gardens, a roughly two-acre township-owned property with a street address of 2387 Watnong Terrace, in exchange for property maintenance services rather than rent. Barberio’s term ended December 31, 2025.

After Barberio left office, the township notified Neglia that it considered the lease invalid and would not allow him to move in. Neglia sued in May, asking the court to either declare the lease valid because Barberio had the authority to sign it, or, alternatively, to find the township equitably estopped from terminating it.

Neglia’s attorneys argued that a 2020 Township Council resolution authorizing a caretaker agreement for Watnong Gardens and Craftsman Farm gave the sitting mayor ongoing authority to execute such leases. The township countered that the resolution was not a valid basis for the lease and that it violated the state’s Optional Municipal Charter Law, commonly known as the Faulkner Act, because any lease of township property required Township Council approval that Barberio never sought.

In his written opinion, Judge Franzblau agreed with the township on both points. He found that the 2020 resolution improperly attempted to grant the mayor open-ended, permanent leasing authority, a power that should have been established through an ordinance rather than a resolution. He also found that, separate from that issue, Parsippany’s mayor-council form of government under the Faulkner Act required Barberio to present the lease to the Township Council for approval, which he did not do. As a result, the judge ruled that Barberio acted without authority, or ultra vires, in signing the lease, rendering it void from the outset.

The ruling leaves open Neglia’s alternative argument that the township should be equitably estopped from terminating the lease. The judge vacated an earlier August 3 order that would have allowed that claim to move forward as a summary action, finding that the issue instead requires formal discovery. The case will now proceed on that narrower claim.

PARSIPPANY — The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills held its Ceremony of Remembrance Friday morning at the 9/11 Memorial Monument Site outside the municipal building, marking 25 years since the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The ceremony opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Captain Tom Carney, and the National Anthem, performed by Michelle Musolino Roberts. A moment of silence followed at 8:46 a.m., marking the time the first plane struck the World Trade Center.

The Reverend Psomi Psomas-Jacloski of St. Andrew Lutheran Church offered the invocation, and Mayor Pulkit Desai delivered welcoming remarks. Loretta Viglione read a poem written by Mark Viglione, nephew of first responder Thomas Sabella.

A second moment of silence was observed at 9:03 a.m., marking the time a second plane struck the World Trade Center’s South Tower. Howard Hendrickson and members of the American Legion then tolled the bell, and Michael Boll, president of the New Jersey Veterans Network, read the names of the Parsippany residents who died in the attacks: Martin Boryczewski, Antoinette Duger, Jason Kyle Jacobs, Michael Pescherine, Thomas H. Polhemus, Maria Theresa Santillan and Michael C. Sorresse.

Hank Zolla and members of the American Legion presented a wreath, and the Reverend Donald Bragg of Parsippany Presbyterian Church gave the benediction. Michelle Musolino Roberts performed “God Bless America,” and bugler David Glaser played Taps to close the ceremony.

The program also recognized current and retired Parsippany Police Department personnel who provided assistance in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks:

• Police Officer David Cavaliere
• Detective Sergeant Richard Nicoletti
• Detective Joseph Gasco
• Sergeant Daniel McConnell
• Police Officer Joseph Chmura
• Police Officer Robert Luongo
• Detective “Jack” Wieners
• Detective Sergeant Greg Clark
• Sergeant Michael Scrivani
• Sergeant Carl Kehler
• Detective Sergeant “Jay” Wieners
• Detective Michael Lasalandra
• Detective Joseph Puso
• Police Officer John Senese
• Lieutenant Richard Ala
• Captain Paul Philipps
• Sergeant Thomas Carney
• Deputy Chief William Makowitz
• Sergeant Christopher Cesarski
• Lieutenant K. Carhart
• Police Officer Sean Jasicek
• Detective Daniel Cicala
• Detective David Guth
• Sergeant Mohamed Seyam

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Hills High School earned a commanding victory over crosstown rival Parsippany High School on Thursday, September 10, defeating the Red Hawks, 27-0.

The victory improved the Vikings’ record to 2-1, while Parsippany fell to 2-1 after suffering its first loss of the season.

The game remained scoreless throughout the first quarter before Parsippany Hills broke through in the second. Anthony Caponegro powered into the end zone on a 2-yard rushing touchdown, giving the Vikings a 7-0 lead.

Later in the quarter, quarterback Nick Napolitano connected with Donovan Martell for a 9-yard touchdown pass, extending the advantage to 14-0 at halftime.

Parsippany Hills continued to pull away in the second half. Napolitano added another touchdown pass when he found Will Maass, while Dante Gutierrez later reached the end zone to complete the scoring.

The Vikings’ defense controlled the rivalry matchup from start to finish, preventing Parsippany from scoring and securing its first shutout of the season.

The buildup to the crosstown game also included tension away from the field. In the days leading up to the matchup, vulgar images targeting students associated with both schools circulated on social media. Parsippany Focus will not publish or reproduce the images because of their explicit nature and to protect the privacy and safety of the students involved.

The loss halted a strong opening stretch for the Red Hawks, who began the season 2-0 for the first time since 2003. Parsippany Hills, meanwhile, rebounded from its loss to Mendham and secured its second victory through three games. Parsippany will look to bounce back when it hosts Whippany Park on Friday, September 18, at 7:00 p.m.

Author’s Note: Special thanks to Sameer Dhode and Aarnav Sinha for providing in-game information, to Ryan Cobeo for his photography, and to the Parsippany High and Parsippany Hills Barstool accounts for the off the field drama