PARSIPPANY — Junior is a two-year-old male Pit Bull Terrier/English Bulldog mix stole our hearts at the Newark municipal shelter when we met him! Surrendered to the shelter over two months ago, Junior was just waiting for his chance at freedom and we could not be happier we rescued him!
While about 65 pounds, Junior is short and stocky, much like a Bulldog. His tail rarely stops wagging and he absolutely loves getting pet! He also enjoys sitting RIGHT in your lap. He just wants to be as close to you as possible!
Junior is great with other dogs and could live with children ten and up. He walks great in a harness and would love to go on a lifetime of walks with you! Junior enjoyed playing with a tennis ball and had no problem giving it right back to us.
If you’re looking for a well-mannered, friendly, loving dog, please fill out an application by clicking here.
Follow Wise Animal Rescue on Instagram by clicking here.
Like Wise Animal Control on Facebook by clicking here.
Wise Animal Control’s goal is to find the perfect family dynamic and place our dogs in a loving, safe and permanent home. All of our dogs available for adoption are spayed/neutered, up-to-date on shots and microchipped.
Our adoption process starts with filling an application, home visit, meet and greet and then finalizing with an adoption contract and fee.
Adoption fees range from about $200.00 to $500.00. These fees help defray costs of veterinary and foster care and are tax deductible.
The air was definitely different at Town Hall on this Tuesday night for the regular agenda meeting. Maybe just metaphorically it was “cleaner”, less stifling, fresher, newer, and invigorating. And that had nothing to do with the cold outside. Inside there was a new attitude. The public was able to speak their mind longer. Instead of blank, dismissive, avoiding stares at the table top, and terse one-minute warning – questions came forth about citizens’ concerns. A cordial and receptive conversation had started about new ideas.
For those of us that grasped what kind of change was taking place – it was really a new day. The CFO had been sent home to spend time with her family after working a full Holiday weekend. The Mayor at the beginning of the meeting, noted she was no longer needed on a regular basis. The Mayor had dismissed himself out of respect for the legislative process. Not that he was avoiding the public, as he also noted that he was determined to have a town hall once a month in every section of town going forward.
For someone like me, having run for Federal office and having the experience of debating my opponent in front of hundreds of people, my very own townhall was an extraordinarily intimidating place, as it was for so many in the past few years. Why? Because those behind the dais had all the power, and didn’t quite wield it with the appropriate humility you’d expect from a public servant. Not at all interested in a reasoned conversation. I had been mocked by the previous mayor for espousing the importance of transparency in a democracy. I was told I was “full of it, Tom” – when noting that this was Jefferson’s dream – that an informed public could be capable of self-governance. I was accused of backhanded partisan deception by a late former councilman for advocating for an ordinance to slow the flow of money that potentially corrupted our government. The same ordinance was dismantled by a currently sitting councilman with the help of the previous attorney. I was denied service to the town on committees for blatant partisan reasons by a former councilman (now freeholder). It wasn’t fun, and at the risk of giving them any satisfaction – I’ll say it was quite humiliating.
So – yes the air had definitely changed in the council chamber.
Mayor Soriano moving the “Mayor Only Parking Sign” at Town Hall. The Mayor said he doesn’t need a special parking spot
On Monday – the cameras caught all the excitement of the day as the Governor-Elect, former governor, former mayor and so many other dignitaries and community leaders participated in the change of guard. But in a quieter moment at the end of all the festivities – there was another moment that was missed.
When getting ready to leave, I had warmed up my car and pulled around to the front of the building to pick up my family. I debated whether I should park in the “Reserved Mayor” spot as no car was there. Out of the front door came the new Mayor walking toward me with no overcoat and just a knit cap… and a screwdriver in his hand. He proceeded to dismantle the “Reserved Mayor” sign stating that it was being converted to “Handicapped”. He could walk a little further from now on to give someone a chance to participate in government with just a little less hassle.
Yep – it’s quite a new day at Parsippany Town Hall.
PARSIPPANY — Tori Rothman of Mount Tabor has been inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success at Kutztown University. Tori is a 2014 graduate of Parsippany Hills High School
The Society is the nation’s largest leadership honor society. Students are selected by their college for membership based on either academic standing or leadership potential. Candidacy is a nationally recognized achievement of honorable distinction. With 599 chapters, the Society currently has 808,352 members nationwide.
In addition to honorable distinction, the Society provides a step-by-step program for members to build their leadership skills through participation at their campus or online. Upon completion of the program, members receive their leadership certificate and take their place among the top student leaders at their campus and across the country. Members are able to list their affiliation on all statements of personal accomplishment, including their resume.
Membership is for life and provides access to benefits including scholarships and awards, exclusive on-campus events, employer recruitment through an online job bank, and discounts on computers, textbooks, grad school prep courses and insurance.
To be inducted at KU, students must attend an orientation, a three-hour leadership training seminar, three success networking team meetings and three speaker broadcasts featuring leading figures delivering success-related messages to members.
Founded in 1866, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania is a proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education located on 289 acres nestled in the beautiful East Penn Valley in Berks County, between Reading and Allentown, Pennsylvania. KU is just two hours from New York City; 90 minutes from Philadelphia. As the region’s center for excellence in academics, culture and public engagement, KU’s programs and reputation for quality offer students the opportunity to discover lifelong avenues of learning and discovery. KU students select from more than 100 areas of study within four colleges in a diverse liberal arts academic environment. To complement their studies, KU’s NCAA Division II athletics program with 21 varsity sports joins the more than 160 student clubs and organizations providing students with a variety of activities for learning and discovery. For more information, please visit us at www.kutztown.edu.
PARSIPPANY — Power was out at the Parsippany Animal Shelter, so Mayor Soriano invited the animal control officers to keep the feline friends warm at Town Hall for the night. Special thanks goes out to Denville and Montville for offering to shelter the dogs for the night. Miller and Trill were among the cats that were visiting Town Hall, and they are both available for adoption.
Trill is approximately one to two years old. She has short hair. She came to Parsippany Animal Shelter as a stray from the streets with her kittens. The kittens were all raised up and adopted and now it’s her turn! She is shy but very sweet and she loves to be petted. She loves other cats as well and would love to be in a home with another cat! She is negative for felv/fiv, spayed, and up to date on vaccinations. She is house trained. Vaccinations up to date, spayed and neutered. To adopt Trill call (973) 263-7083.
To adopt Trill call 973-263-7083To adopt Miller call 973-263-7083
To meet these animals and the any other visit the Parsippany Animal Shelter 1069 Parsippany Boulevard. They are open Monday to Friday 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon.
NEW JERSEY — Effective January 1, 2018, the New Jersey Sales and Use Tax Rate is 6.625%.
Before January 1, 2017, the Sales Tax rate was 7%. Per P.L. 2016, c. 57, the New Jersey Sales and Use Tax rate was reduced in phases between 2017 and 2018:
6.875% on sales made between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017.
6.625% on sales made on and after January 1, 2018.
Changes for Sellers
For taxable sales on and after January 1, 2018, sellers must collect and remit Sales Tax at the rate of 6.625% except under specific circumstances provided for by law. Sales Tax is levied on:
Sales Made Before January 1, 2018, but Delivered On or After January 1, 2018.
If the tangible personal property or specified digital products are sold and delivered, or services are rendered, between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, the seller must collect Sales Tax at the rate of 6.875%.
If the property, products, or services are sold between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, but are delivered or rendered on or after January 1, 2018, the seller must collect tax at the rate of 6.625%. Sales Made Before January 1, 2017; Delivery on and After January 1, 2017:
If the tangible personal property or specified digital products are sold and delivered or services are rendered before January 1, 2017, the seller must collect tax at the rate of 7%. If the tangible personal property, specified digital products, or services are sold before January 1, 2017, but the tangible personal property or specified digital products are delivered, or the services rendered on or after January 1, 2017, but before January 1, 2018, the seller must collect tax at the rate of 6.875%.
PARSIPPANY — Aimee Osterman a freshman Early Elementary Education major at York College of Pennsylvania, has been named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2017 semester. Aimee was a 2017 graduate of Parsippany Hills High School and was a Camp Counselor at Harbor Hills Day Camp.
To be eligible for this honor, a student must be registered for at least 12 academic credit hours and earn a semester GPA of 3.50 or higher.
Located in south central Pennsylvania, York College offers more than 50 baccalaureate majors in professional programs, the sciences and humanities to its 4,600 undergraduate students. The College also offers master’s programs in business, education and nursing, and a doctorate in nursing practice. A center of affordable academic excellence, York is dedicated to the intellectual, professional and social growth of its students. The College helps them develop a concrete plan to attain academic growth and career success; encourages them to try in the “real world” what they learn in the classroom; and prepares them to be professionals in whatever career they pursue.
This past Monday, I was able to attend the swearing in ceremony for Mayor Michael Soriano, and our two new council members, Emily Peterson and Janice McCarthy.
My family and I stayed for the reorganization meeting immediately after as well. Knowing about some of the contentious decisions that were being made that day, I was a little nervous when I heard the council choose Paul Carifi, Jr. as the Town Council President.
As the beginning of the reorganization meeting went on, and I heard how the votes were going, I became less nervous. Then came the biggest vote (in my mind) of the day – the Township Attorney.
The voting began and I listened to Mr. dePierro’s explanation of why he voted no. Moving on to Paul Carifi, Jr.’s vote and he too had words to share with the room. He read two pages of a 17-page opinion paper written by a lawyer he personally hired to determine whether he could make this vote or he had to abstain.
He then added personal words, pushing back on what Michael dePierro said, essentially telling Mr. dePierro that he took back words stated a couple of years ago that the people and the Mayor should decide who provides legal counsel to the town.
I commend Paul Carifi, Jr. for doing what was right and best for the town of Parsippany. He did NOT choose the easy road; instead, he chose the road less traveled today. The road that leads to fighting against your own party. Instead of choosing party politics, which seems to be all too common across this country from local to federal government, he chose what was best for the people, and what he heard from the people.
I got a chance to speak with Paul after the meeting, and from that brief encounter, I can tell he has a tough battle ahead of him in his party, in reelection (if he chooses it) and in being Town Council President. But I want to say thank you to Paul for speaking up, for doing what was right, despite the hardships you are about to face. Thank you for breaking the chain of constant party politics and looking out for the people of Parsippany!
Kendra Von Achen
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PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Department of Public Works has been out all morning clearing the streets of Parsippany.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Schools declared a 90-minute delayed open on Wednesday before the first flakes even fell in what’s being called a “bomb cyclone,” and then approximately 6:00 a.m. they closed the schools for the day.
Anticipated nor’easter expected to drop 10 inches or more of snow on eastern portions of New Jersey, but only two to four inches in Morris County.
State government offices, meanwhile, will open on a two-hour delay to allow time for clearing of roadways, parking lots and sidewalks for safe travel. Superior Court in Morristown is on a two-hour delay.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Government offices are business as usual, according to Parsippany’s Mayor Michael Soriano.
PARSIPPANY — Former Council President Louis Valori called a special council meeting on December 27, 2017 to pass some final resolutions before his term ended on December 31, 2017.
One of the Resolutions (No. 2017-190) paved the way for 700 Mountain Way, LLC., the owner of property on Block 14, Lots 6, 6.01, 6.02, 9, 9.01 and 10 for construction of seventy-four townhome units and twenty-three apartment units, with related parking, and on-site and off-site improvements.
As part of an approved “Developers Agreement” the Developer is required to set aside twenty percent of the total number of for sale units and fifteen percent of the total number of rental units in the project as affordable housing units to be built in a conformity with Uniform Housing Affordability Controls.
According to official records filed in the State of New Jersey, 700 Mountain Way, LLC has a registered office at Wilf & Silverman, 820 Morris Turnpike, Suite 201, Short Hills, New Jersey. 700 Mountain Way, LLC, was formed on August 11, 2005. (Click here for Certificate of Formation).
On October 6, 2017, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) property located at 1500 Littleton Road was sold on October 6, for $8,500,000.00. The buyer is listed as Parsippany Littleton, LLC. The office address is listed as 820 Morris Turnpike, Short Hills.
Also listed at the address of 820 Morris Avenue is Garden Homes. Garden Homes is owned in part or wholly by Zygi Wilf. Zygi Wilf is the Owner/Chairman of the Minnesota Vikings (click here for additional details).
Wilf joined the family business and became head of one of the company’s affiliates, Garden Commercial Properties. Wilf has grown the company from four shopping centers in Northern New Jersey to over a hundred properties, including several large malls. In addition to the commercial properties, the Garden companies also own and manages 90,000 apartment units around the country. In Parsippany, Garden Communities consists of Powdermill Heights, Knoll Gardens, Mill Run at Parsippany, Redstone Gardens, Ridgeview Gardens, Redstone Apartments, Vail Gardens and Westgate Apartments.
Garden Homes is also involved with Forge Pond, a townhouse development with a price tag ranging from $435,000 to $535,000; Puddingstone Ridge, single family homes with a price tag of approximately $825,000; In Budd Lake, Lakeview Homes, single family homes with a price tag of approximately $600,000; In Fairfield, The Reserve at Fairfield, with homes ranging from $829,000 to $1,014,000. Mazdabrook Commons is listed as one of their past projects.
Other projects of Garden Homes is located in Bergen, Essex, Monmouth, Morris, Somerset, Warren Counties and Hartford Connecticut.
Garden Communities offers apartment rentals throughout New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. They offer 1, 2 or 3 bedroom units, studios, townhouses/duplexes, luxury apartment rentals, affordable housing or 55+ active adult communities. Their properties offer residents access to extensive shopping, entertainment, the best schools in the area and recreational activities for all ages.
Garden Commercial Properties also is listed at 820 Morris Avenue. Some of the properties in that portfolio include Parsippany’s Arlington Plaza, among over a dozen other shopping centers in New Jersey. Rutgers Village, Powder Mill East Shopping Center, and Powder Mill West Shopping Centers are part of Pineview Homes, which is a subsidiary of the Wilf empire.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council passed a resolution authorizing the award of a contract for professional services to the firm McManimon, Scotland and Baumann as a conflict counsel in which matters the Township Attorney has a conflict.
The resolution (No. 2018:013) was passed at the Annual Reorganization meeting held on Monday, January 1, 2018.
The resolution passed 3-2, with Councilman Michael dePierro and Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani voting against the appointment.
McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC is a law firm focused on New Jersey — serving both government and private sector clients — with an extensive history in public finance law. Founded in 1971, the firm brings a unique ability to bridge the public and private sectors in order to realize groundbreaking projects.
The firm is well diverse in Corporations, Business and Banking, Energy, Environmental, General and Special Counsel Services, Government Procurement & Contract Services, Housing, Labor and Employment, Litigation, New Markets Tax Credits, Property Tax Appeals, Public Finance, Public Utilities, Cable and Wi-Fi, Public-Private Partnerships (P3), Redevelopment and Land Use, Tax and Tax Controversy.
They have three offices located in Roseland Office (headquarters), Newark and Trenton.
PARSIPPANY — Nicholas C. Kumburis officially resigned from Parsippany-Troy Hills School District Board of Education as of midnight on January 1, 2018.
Below is the resignation letter he submitted to the School Board in September:
“In November of 2016, I was elected by the residents of Parsippany-Troy Hills to represent them as a member of the Board of Education. I had two main reasons for running. First was to participate in the Superintendent search and second was to ensure our budget money was being properly spent. With the hiring of Dr. Sargent, I have full confidence the board as a whole has made the right selection. I firmly believe Dr. Sargent will take our school district to the next level. As for the second part, I have learned that the board and faculty do everything within their power to ensure the education of our students is maximized given the financial constraints of the tax cap and state funding formula,” the letter stated
“Having served the district in good faith, I now wish to return to my primary role as parent of children in this district. I have given my notice that I will finish out this year and forego the remainder of my term. I have gotten to know the members of the board, as well as Dr. Sargent. Each one cares deeply and works tirelessly to ensure our children receive a quality education. I am certain that the district will continue to thrive with or without my presence. I fully intend to continue my involvement in the community through coaching, mentoring, fundraising, science programs, and fostering a love of continual learning. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve our district in this capacity,” said Nick Kumburis.
The remaining two years of his term will be filled by appointment.
A notice of the Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education website states:
Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Board of Education Notice of Intent to Fill Board Member Vacancy Position
The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Board of Education has one vacant Board Member position which it plans to fill at its Meeting on January 18, 2018. Interested individuals who possess the qualifications for a Board of Education Member (see ByLaw 0142 on the district’s website, by clicking here.) are encouraged to submit a resume and/or request for consideration to the Business Administrator/Board Secretary, Mrs. Robin Tedesco, by 1:00 PM, Friday, January 12, 2018. Submissions may be sent to the Dr. Frank A. Calabria Education Center, 292 Parsippany Road, Parsippany, NJ 07054.
PARSIPPANY — Reports have been released of a missing person in the area of Manor Park. Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Police, New Jersey State Police Helicopters, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Parsippany Office of Emergency Management.
An update from Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Chief Paul Philipps – She was found and she is safe. He thanks everyone for their concern.
PARSIPPANY— The Parsippany Police Department would like to thank the employees at the United Parcel Service IT building at 10 Upper Pond Road for collecting over ninety toys and donating them to the Parsippany PBA Local 131.
Those toys, along with some donated from the members of Parsippany PBA Local 131, were then donated to a local church so they could be given out to families in need this holiday season.
RANDOLPH — This cutie pie is Alan! He is about five months old and he was rescued from the streets of Puerto Rico with his sister Alana. Puerto Rico is beautiful but life can be hard for dogs and cats. Dogs and cats wander the streets looking for food, water, shelter.
Most survive on mere scraps and on anything that smelled even slightly of food.
The siblings were lucky because someone found them, put them in a box and and left them in front of Save the Sato Foundation. The kind volunteers there took care of them until Furever Home Dog Rescue flew them to New Jersey to live in foster homes.
This is what Alan’s foster family says about him…..”Alan is so sweet and so handsome! He has a shinny black coat with white on his chest and tips of his back paws. And just look at that face! Adorable! Alan has only been with us a few days and we are still learning about him and he is learning that people are kind. He spends his days playing in our fenced in yard and playing with my dogs. He will lay in his puppy bed and watch tv with us.
Alan will run away if we approach he head on, but if he will following my daughter around and if you crouch low he will come to us. When we walk into the room Alan is always happy to see us and greet us with a wagging tail. He loves treats and will take them from our hands. Alan is house trained but is not found of the leash yet. He would do good in a home with a dog without young children.”
Alan is such a sweet pup, and we recommend someone who has the patience acclimating him to his new home. He is shy and anyone who adopts him should realize that he is a work in progress, but we assure you he will come around! He’s just beginning to learn humans are in his life to help him. He is making progress in his foster home that we are sure he will continue to blossom in his furever home. Alan just needs the right person to call his own. He is truly a diamond in the ruff!” You and see more photos and a video of Alan and our other adoptable puppies by clicking here. If interested in adopting Alan please email FHDR@att.net for an adoption application.
PARSIPPANY — At a standing room only crowd Governor Elect Honorable Phillip D. Murphy gave the oath of office to incoming Mayor Michael A. Soriano on Monday, January 1.
“I appreciate the words that Governor Codey said about leaving politics at the door.” said Murphy, referring to former Governor Richard Codey, who also attended. “We get there stronger and longer if we do it together. And that’s what I think we can do, and not for this great community Parsippany, this county and this great state.”
Democratic congressional candidate Mikie Sherrill gave the oath of office to incoming Councilwoman Emily Peterson and Mayor Mimi Letts administered the oath office to incoming Councilwoman Janice McCarthy.
The innovation was given by Pastor Jeff Edwards and the benediction by Monsignor Herbert K. Tillyer.
Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills Inauguration Ceremony 2018
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Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills
Township Clerk Khaled Madin
Invocation by Pastor Jeff Edwards, Parsippany United Methodist Church
Governor Richard Codey
Mikie Sherrill, Esq. swears in Emily Peterson, a democrat that won a seat on Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council
Mikie Sherrill hugs and congratulates Emily Peterson
Governor-elect Phillip D. Murphy swears in Mayor Michael Soriano
Governor Philip Murphy
Mayor Michael Soriano
Mayor Mimi Letts and Council Vice President Janice McCarthy
Governor-elect Phillip D. Murphy, Mayor Michael Soriano, Jennifer Mayo, his daughter, and his father Ramon Soriano
Standing room only
Benediction by Monsignor Herbert K. Tillyer
Brian Tappen and Pat Petaccia
Brielle Wyka and Joanne Rich
Betty Wyka and Judy Hernandez
The Madin family
Michael's Grandfather: 90 year old Pablo Melendez
Jean and John Ferrara
Mikie Sherrill Esq., Mayor Michael Soriano, Governor Richard Codey, Governor-Elect Phil Murphy, Mayor Mimi Letts, Freeholder Heather Darling and Assemblywoman BettyLout DeCroce
Governor Elect Phil Murphy
Mrs. Jean Ferrara and Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce
Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce President Robert Peluso and CFO Ann Cucci
In the 2023 Primary, Robert Peluso and BettyLou DeCroce ran for Assembly. While Barberio supported DeCroce, he did not extend his support to Peluso. Unfortunately, both candidates were unsuccessful in winning the election.
Mikie Sherrill, Esq. and Mayor Mimi Letts
Adam Gragnani
Parsippany Rescue and Recovery members Bill Sanford and Jack Beg
Former Mayor Joseph Weisberg
Mimi Letts, Howard Letts and Councilwoman Janice McCarthy
Freeholder Heather Darling with Council President Paul Carifi, Jr..
Emily Peterson and James
Councilman Jonathan Nelson, Tommy Jones and Ore Obiwumi
Councilwoman Emily Peterson, Al Goldberg and Nicolas Limanov
After the Inauguration Ceremony, the Township Council held its annual reorganization meeting.
Complete story will be published shortly on Parsippany Focus.
PARSIPPANY — At approximately 7:15 p.m. members from Lake Parsippany Volunteer Fire Department District 3 and Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire District 6 were called to Raceway Gas Station, 1379 Littleton Road (at the corner of Halsey Road) on a report of a fire in the bathroom.
Mount Tabor Volunteer Fire District 1 Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) team is also on the scene. Parsippany Volunteer Ambulance, and Par-Troy EMS also responded to the scene.
Littleton Road (in the area of Raceway) and Halsey Road is closed for traffic during the incident.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by Parsippany Fire Investigator Patrolman David Cavaliere and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office CIS unit.
Parsippany Rescue and Recovery arrived to board up the building from the fire in the restroomParsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire Department 6 was on the scene at Raceway Gas StationLake Parsippany Volunteer Fire Department cuts hole in roof of Raceway Gas Station
PARSIPPANY — During the Annual Reorganization Meeting of the Township Council of Parsippany-Troy Hills, Paul Carifi, Jr., was appointed to serve as Township Council President, and newcomer Janice McCarthy to serve as Vice President.
The appointments were approved unanimously.
The Township Council consists of Paul Carifi, Jr., President; Janice McCarthy, Vice President; Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani, Councilman Michael dePierro and Councilwoman Emily Peterson.
Former Council President Louis Valori term ended December 31. He lost re-election in the November General Election. Council Vice President Robert Peluso chose not to run for Township Council, but rather to seek the office of the Mayor in the Primary Election, and lost the Republican Nomination to Mayor James Barberio. Baberio lost the Mayoral election to Democrat Michael A. Soriano.
The first agenda meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 2 at 7:30 in the Township Council Chambers, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard.
PARSIPPANY — Keeping a campaign promise to Parsippany residents, Mayor Michael Soriano presented his choice for Township Attorney to the members of the Township Council for a vote during the reorganization meeting on Monday, January 1. (Click here to see related video).
The vote 3-2 to accept the Mayor’s appointment of James L. Lott, Jr. as Township Attorney to replace the former Township Attorney appointed by previous Mayor James Barberio.
Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani and Councilman Michael dePierro voted against the appointment, while Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr., and newly elected Councilwomen Emily Peterson and Janice McCarthy voted for the appointment.
Upon approval of the resolution, the audience starting clapping, bursted in joy and cheering that the Township of Parsippany-Troy has new legal counsel, and that former Township Attorney John Inglesino is gone.
James L. Lott, Jr., Esq.
James L. Lott, Jr. is a partner at Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP. in the Firm’s Government Affairs Group. His practice encompasses all aspects of land development regulation as well as redevelopment, municipal and transportation law. Jim has significant experience in handling complex and controversial development projects and has appeared before more than 75 municipal, county and regional land use and transportation agencies.
Jim has litigated development approval rights in the Superior Court of New Jersey and represented clients in contested administrative agency actions and permitting matters before the New Jersey Departments of Transportation, Community Affairs, Environmental Protection, and Agriculture, the Board of Public Utilities, as well as before the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and National Transportation Safety Board. Jim has considerable experience and expertise in land development and transportation matters arising under Municipal Land Use Law, Local Redevelopment and Housing Law as well as the State Highway Access Management Act.
Jim has also counseled public and private clients in matters involving compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, Open Public Records Act, HUD and NJDCA affordable housing and community development programs, and the Local Government Ethics Law; the drafting and enactment of local government legislation; public contracting procedures; the sale and lease of public property under the Local Lands and Buildings Law as well as provided advice in connection with local finance, taxation and budgetary matters.
Jim is special condemnation counsel to New Jersey Transit in the ARC-THE Tunnel project. He also served as legal counsel to the Township of West Caldwell Zoning Board of Adjustment and previously served as an alternate member to the board.
Prior to joining the firm, he served as a Special Assistant to the Regional Administrator in the New York/New Jersey Regional Office of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. In addition, he served at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs as the Commissioner’s Executive Assistant for housing, development and urban policy initiatives.
Jim is a member of the New Jersey State and American Bar Associations and is on the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Alliance for Action, an economic development and smart growth public infrastructure support group. Thomson Reuters has included Jim on New Jersey’s “Super Lawyers” list in the area of municipal law in 2008, 2009, and 2012 – 2015. Best Lawyers in America®, a peer review of U.S. lawyers, has included Jim on its Best Lawyers list in the field of Land Use and Zoning Law since 2015.
The sign is very clear. This was the message many residents at the Township Council meeting of December 27 were echoing
In a last minute attempt to keep Inglesino as a holdover, Councilman Louis Valori issued a Resolution to stop Carifi from voting on appointment of new Township Attorney at the council meeting of Tuesday, December 19. That resolution was passed 3-2, with Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr., and former Council Vice President Robert Peluso abstaining.
Piro, Zinna, Cifelli, Paris and Genitempo, a firm hired by Inglesino, issued a ten page opinion letter disqualifying Paul Carifi from voting. The opinion letter was delivered to the Council at the special meeting of December 27. In the letter it stated “Under the circumstances in this situation, an impermissible conflict of interest will exist if Councilman Carifi votes on the appointment of a nominated Township Attorney or Special Counsel who will be responsible of Township ordinances for monitoring and assisting with the pending Carifi Litigation”
At the special reorganization meeting, Paul Carifi, Jr., read pages from an opinion letter submitted by his Counsel, Trenk-DiPasquale Della Fera Sodono. The opinion stated “The Piro Zinna Opinion Letter fails to accurately analyze the issues before the Township Council and Council Carifi’s role and responsibilities. Specifically, the Piro Zina Opinion Letter relies predominantly upon the general and stale common law theories and fails to account for the Local Government Ethics Law (LGEL) statutory language. The majority of the cited cases pre-date the passage of the LGEL and do not account for the framework established by LGEL. “Upon review of the facts and governing law, I find that no conflict of interest or other legal prohibition under law exists to preclude Councilman Carifi from voting on the appointment of the Township Attorney” said Richard D. Trenk in his seventeen-page opinion letter.
Township Attorney John Inglesino was appointed by Mayor James Barberio. During the eight years as Township Attorney, many of the years Inglesino was a “hold over” because not all Council members, including Council President Louis Valori, voted for reappointment of Inglesino.
In April 2014, Councilman Louis Valori voted to pass a resolution to investigate Township Attorney John Inglesino. The resolution authorized the hiring of an attorney to aid in the Council’s investigation of Barberio and the prosecution of township attorney John Inglesino over their refusal to turn over unredacted bills from his law firm as well as to investigate the unilateral hiring of computer expert Aurora Information and Security Risk. Aurora had previously invoiced the township upwards of $1 million. The hiring of all township contractors require Council approval for amounts over $17,500.
Valori alleged in 2013 that Barberio, Inglesino and former council president Brian Stanton offered to give him a $50,000 township job if he’d stay out of the township’s GOP primary. Valori ran in 2013 for and won a council seat on the same ticket as Carifi, who unsuccessfully challenged Barberio for the mayoral seat in the primary.
Dear Editor:
When getting ready to leave, I had warmed up my car and pulled around to the front of the building to pick up my family. I debated whether I should park in the “Reserved Mayor” spot as no car was there. Out of the front door came the new Mayor walking toward me with no overcoat and just a knit cap… and a screwdriver in his hand. He proceeded to dismantle the “Reserved Mayor” sign stating that it was being converted to “Handicapped”. He could walk a little further from now on to give someone a chance to participate in government with just a little less hassle. 
PARSIPPANY — 
The siblings were lucky because someone found them, put them in a box and and left them in front of Save the Sato Foundation. The kind volunteers there took care of them until Furever Home Dog Rescue flew them to New Jersey to live in foster homes. 
