Tyson Foods is recalling approximately 8,492,832 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products
Tyson Foods is recalling approximately 8,492,832 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced.
The frozen, fully cooked chicken products were produced between December 26, 2020, and April 13, 2021. Click here for a list of products that are subject to recall. Click here to view the product labels.
The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. P-7089” on the product bag or inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped nationwide to retailers and institutions, including hospitals, nursing facilities, restaurants, schools, and Department of Defense locations.
On June 9, 2021, FSIS was notified of two persons ill with listeriosis. Working in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners, FSIS determined there is evidence linking the Listeria monocytogenes illnesses to pre-cooked chicken produced at Tyson Foods Inc. The epidemiologic investigation identified three listeriosis illnesses, including one death, between April 6, 2021 and June 5, 2021. During routine sample collection, FSIS collected two precooked chicken samples from two establishments that are closely related genetically to Listeria monocytogenes from ill people. One of the samples was collected at Tyson Foods Inc. FSIS is continuing to work with federal and state public health partners to determine if there are additional illnesses linked to these products.
Additional information on the investigation may be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.
Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.
FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumer and institutional freezers. Consumers should not eat these products. Institutions should not serve these products. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website by clicking here.
Volunteers Dover Police Officer and Kiwanis Member Ilmi Bojkovic, Tyler Brookes, Chris Sorrentino, Kylie Mastropolo, Austyn Brookes, Byrce Brookes, and Dylan Brookes distributing the food to residents at Birchwood School
MORRIS COUNTY — On Saturday, June 26 at Birchwood Elementary School, 1 Art Street, Rockaway, Kiwanis Club of Rockaway Valley, along with other surroundings Kiwanis clubs, carried out Operation: Feeding Morris County.
With the help of surrounding Kiwanis clubs, over 75 volunteers, multiple sponsors, and many more, they were able to distribute over 20,000 pounds of food to over 500 families in need.
Kiwanis Club purchased 20,000 pounds of food to feed over 500 families in needBoxes of food, packed by volunteers to be distributed at Birchwood SchoolPlenty of gallons of milk were includedPallets of food being loaded off the tractor-trailer
Kiwanis Club of Rockaway Valley, a new Kiwanis Club being formed to serve Rockaway Township, Rockaway Borough, Wharton, and Dover, is sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Greater Roxbury.
Local Kiwanis clubs included Kiwanis Club of Greater Roxbury, Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, Tri-Town Kiwanis Club, and Kiwanis Club of South Orange/Maplewood. With the help of these clubs, the towns that we’re able to hold food pick-up locations included Roxbury, Rockaway, South Orange, and Maplewood.
Scattered throughout all locations were over 75 volunteers, including Kiwanis Member and Dover Police Officer Ilmi Bojkovic. People who donated their time to help the people who need it most throughout their communities. The day started at 5:30 a.m., volunteers showed up at the St. Therese parking lot, in Succasunna. Volunteers helped assemble boxes, organize food as it came off the 18-wheeler, fill boxes with food, load the transport truck to take food boxes to other pick-up locations, load cars with food that were in line, clean up, and so much more.
Rockaway Township Mayor Michael Puzio and Volunteer Dylan Brookes placing food in a vehicle
“I want to personally thank all the amazing volunteers that took time out of their busy schedules to come to help us. They are what made the event be able to run as smoothly as it did, and they truly make the event come to life,” said Valerie Kuglin, a local Rockaway resident and a new member of the Kiwanis Club of Rockaway Valley.
“Many people may feel like they need to humble themselves because they are asking for help, so we try to alleviate any feelings like that they might have.” Frank Cahill, Lt. Governor Division 9, New Jersey Kiwanis. To date, Kiwanis Club has distributed over 169,000 pounds of food to over 4,200 families with a retail value of over $425,000.
The crew of volunteers helping with the food distribution at Birchwood Elementary School
While we ask for families to register online, this is only for a rough estimate of how much food we need to purchase. The only person who can see that list is the club president. On the day of the distributions, families simply pull up, say if they are registered or not, then a volunteer opens either the trunk or back seat of their car, puts the box of food in, closes the door, and drives off.
Dover Police Officer and Kiwanis member Ilmi Bojkovic at Birchwood Elementary School where the food distribution took place in Rockaway
“We want people to feel as comfortable as possible. We want them to know that Kiwanis is here to help,” said Ilmi Bojkovic, who spent his day volunteering. “The economic damage brought by mass layoffs and business closures is expected to persist long after vaccines become widely available and that means demand for food assistance will remain at the current high level for months or years to come.” Cahill says, “So long as there’s a need, we will continue to do the food distributions every month.”
Bojkovic is one of the many volunteers who helped during the past few months. Senator Anthony Bucco, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, Surrogate Heather Darling as well as other police officers, firemen, EMS workers participated in one of our locations. This is definitely a community project.
If you are interested in joining the Kiwanis Club contact Frank Cahill at (862) 346-5100 for additional information.
PARSIPPANY — Neemoe, Chihuahua mix, 12 years old, weighs six pounds is looking for his forever home.
Neemoe will need an owner who can accommodate his current and future medical needs. A quiet home would let this sweet gentleman spend his days in relaxation.
Neemoe has trouble walking with his weak back legs but manages to get around. WISE is going to fit Neemoe for a wheelchair which will ease his trouble!
Children are ok but above the age of 16.
Neemoe would do best with dogs who share his low energy temperament. He will happily co-exist with them. Neemoe also likes cats. He prefers to have free roam of the house when left alone. He is house trained.
Neemoe is the love bug you need! He loves to cuddle and receive pets! His small size makes him the perfect lap dog! He is a couch potato and perfectly content spending the whole day laying next to you. He will let you carry him wherever you go. He is easy to please and very well behaved! His tail never stops wagging when he goes on his short walks outside.
Neemoe was rescued from an overcrowded shelter in NYC. He is now ready for a fresh start! Will you be the Dory to his Neemoe?
If you are interested in adopting Neemoe click here.
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Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani, Council President Michael dePierro, Councilwoman Emily Peterson, Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr., Councilwoman Janice McCarthy
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Meeting will hold a regular meeting, Tuesday, July 7 at Parsippany Municipal Building, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard. The meeting will start at 7:00 p.m. and portions of the meeting are open for public comments.
Joseph Plescia, Superintendent Recreation Department, Sam Yodice, Executive Director PAL, Mayor Michael Soriano, Kristen Pappas, Onyx's Senior Vice President of Property Management and Michael Sifonios, Director of Community Affair
PARSIPPANY — Onyx Equities, a real estate investment firm, donated $75,000 to the township for the Fourth of July celebration and fireworks, covering costs for the major event. Onyx has been in Parsippany since early 2000. Recently they purchased a number of properties in the Mack-Cali complex.
This year’s Fourth of July celebration will be held at Parsippany Hills High School on Sunday, July 4 beginning at 6:00 p.m.
The event will feature Parsippany’s hometown band Overboard, followed by a fireworks display beginning at dark. Special thanks to Onyx Equities for helping the township produce this event at no cost to the community.
Gates open for the Fourth of July celebration at 6:00 p.m. The rain date is Monday, July 5.
“Thanks to this public-private partnership between Onyx and our township, there will be no expense to Parsippany residents for putting on this event,” said Mayor Michael Soriano, as the company presented the township a check for $75,000.
Kristen Pappas, Senior Vice President of Property Management
“We’re thrilled to support Parsippany’s July Fourth celebration and other community activities,” said Kristen Pappas, Senior Vice President of Property Management and Construction for Onyx Equities. “We don’t want our interactions with the people who live and work here to be limited to just nine to five and this gave us a great opportunity to be part of something meaningful.”
In September 2020, a joint venture led by Onyx Equities has closed on its $158 million purchase of a 10-building, 1.5 million-square-foot office portfolio in Parsippany and Madison from Mack-Cali Realty Corp. The new addition to their portfolio includes:
MORRIS COUNTY — Governor Phil Murphy announced that Andrew Bruck will serve as Acting Attorney General for the remainder of the Governor’s four-year term, following the departure of Attorney General Gurbir Grewal on July 16. Bruck currently serves as First Assistant Attorney General and has been part of the executive leadership team at the Attorney General’s Office since January 2018.
“I am pleased to announce that Andrew Bruck will step in to serve as Acting Attorney General and continue the office’s mission of fighting for equal justice for everyone who calls our state home,” said Governor Murphy. “Andrew’s wealth of experience will serve him well in this role and his historic appointment reflects our continuing commitment to ensuring that our state government reflects the rich diversity of our people.”
Before joining the Office of the Attorney General, Bruck spent five years at the U.S. Department of Justice. During that time, he served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and held several roles in the office of Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, including Senior Counsel, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Acting Chief of Staff. Before joining the Department of Justice, Bruck worked as a litigation associate in the New York office of Davis Polk & Wardwell and clerked for Chief Justice Stuart Rabner of the New Jersey Supreme Court. He is a graduate of Princeton University and Stanford Law School.
Bruck is a New Jersey native who grew up in Montclair and Mendham. He currently resides in Trenton with his husband Adam and 8-month-old daughter, Libby. Bruck will be the first member of the LGBTQ+ community to serve as Attorney General of New Jersey.
“I thank Governor Murphy for the confidence that he has Aplaced in me, and I am honored by the opportunity to continue the groundbreaking work of Attorney General Grewal,” said First Assistant Attorney General Andrew Bruck. “I share their commitment to protecting public safety, building public trust, and ensuring the rights of all New Jerseyans. I look forward to working with our Department’s 7,700 extraordinary public servants to carry out our vital mission.”
“I am thrilled that Governor Murphy has selected Andrew Bruck to lead the Attorney General’s Office for the remainder of my term,” said Attorney General Gurbir Grewal. “Andrew is one of the sharpest legal minds and finest public servants that I have ever met. We entered office together on January 16, 2018, and since that day he has worked tirelessly to stand up for the rights of New Jerseyans, having helped shape some of our office’s most important policies and respond to many of our state’s most complex legal challenges. The people of New Jersey and the dedicated public servants in the Department of Law and Public Safety will be well-served by his leadership.”
“Andrew Bruck has the unique ability to lead by genuinely listening to all sides of issues, crafting bold, principled, and practical solutions, and then giving everyone else credit for it,” said former Acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates.
AHe is trusted by both the civil rights and law enforcement communities because of his track record for forging much-needed meaningful reforms to our criminal justice system while respecting the difficult and crucial role of law enforcement. He is a public servant in the truest sense of the words, and the people of New Jersey can be confident that he will take his responsibility to represent them to heart.”
PARSIPPANY — Catherine McCall remembers, when she was a child, her aunt had bought a new house, and she slept over in her cousin’s bedroom.
Both fell asleep, but McCall woke up and saw a man standing in the corner of the room. Both engaged in an all-night-long staring contest. The next morning, when she went downstairs for breakfast and told her aunt about the encounter, her uncle walked in and said he had been talking with his new neighbor about the prior owner, and the description matched the gentleman in the room with McCall. The man had recently passed away. “I never forgot that,” she says. “That was my first real knowledge that I was seeing a legitimate person. He was attached to that house that they lived in. He didn’t do anything; he just stood in the corner and stared at me all night.”
It also was her first real knowledge of possibly being a Psychic Medium, although she didn’t know it at the time. McCall was born and raised in Dover, and she has an office there. She has been a professional Medium since 2007 and explains the realm. “Mediumship is communicating with the spirit world, and the spirit world is heaven, and when our loved ones pass over, they use people like myself to communicate with their loved ones that they’ve left behind.
The information comes through our senses, so we hear, we feel, we smell, we face empathy. All of our senses are in use, and we call them our ‘clairs.’ So, with clairvoyance, clairsentience, and claircognizance – this is all coming through our senses. I use all of them, but I use clairvoyance with the seeing, clairaudience – which is hearing, and the feeling which is clairsentience.” McCall, 52, finally got used to the spirit world when she started reading for the public. “I didn’t really understand much about mediumship, and I started to discover it and really started to look into it when I was in my mid-30s.” The experience that changed her life forever occurred when she was age 37 and enduring a challenging period in her life. She was in the shower when she heard a female voice that said, “You need to snap out of it. You need to get yourself together, and get your head and your life together because you’re going to change.” “I remember looking around and thinking, ‘Who’s talking to me?’ I heard it; it was so clear.” She exited the shower and prepared to go out for the evening, but the voice kept talking to her, and she kept asking, “Who is this?” Finally, at day’s end and late at night, the voice was still speaking to her and she asked who it was one final time. “And the voice said, ‘This is your grandmother, your mother’s mother, Henrietta.’ She passed when I was a year old, and she said, ‘The depression is going to leave you, you need to get yourself together, you need to stop feeling sorry for yourself because you’re going to take care of and help lots of people in your life.
And if you can’t help yourself, you’re not going to be able to help anybody else.’ And I said to her, ‘Why are you saying this to me?’ And she said, ‘You’re meant to help other people. But until you help yourself, you can’t help anybody else.’” Shortly thereafter, McCall started doing readings, began having more experiences while doing those readings, talking to people, and giving them information, all leading up to her career as a professional Medium. “I love what I do. I guess that’s the easiest way to express it,”
McCall says. “It saved my life. It brought me to a place to understand that my life is here because I’m supposed to help other people with their life. I give everything I am to this because this saved me, and I have to do as much as I can for others because I’m grateful for what has been done for me and my family, and my life.” She’s paying it forward. “Absolutely, every single day,” she says definitively.
Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany will present Catherine McCall on Thursday, July 15 at the Parsippany PAL, 33 Baldwin Road. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and Catherine starts at 6:30 p.m. For tickets click here.
NEW JERSEY — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Gurbir S. Grewal has been appointed Director of the Division of Enforcement, effective July 26, 2021. Grewal currently serves as Attorney General for the State of New Jersey, a role he has held since January 2018, when he was confirmed by the New Jersey State Senate after being nominated by Governor Phil Murphy.
“I’m honored and delighted to welcome Attorney General Grewal to the SEC,” said SEC Chair Gary Gensler. “He has had a distinguished career as New Jersey’s chief law enforcement officer and as a prosecutor at both the local and federal levels. He has the ideal combination of experience, values, and leadership ability to helm the Enforcement Division at this critical time. I look forward to working closely with him to protect investors and root out wrongdoing in our markets.”
“I thank Melissa Hodgman for her service as the Enforcement Division’s Acting Director,” Chair Gensler added. “She will continue to be an important adviser to both Gurbir and me, and I look forward to our continued work together.”
“The Enforcement Division has a critical role to play in finding and punishing violations of the law,” said Grewal. “I’m excited to get to work with the talented team of public servants to uncover and prosecute misconduct and protect investors. I thank Governor Murphy for the opportunity to serve the people of New Jersey and all of the colleagues with whom I’ve had the pleasure to work during my career in the state.”
As New Jersey’s Attorney General, Grewal heads the Department of Law & Public Safety, which employs more than 3,700 uniformed officers, 750 lawyers, and thousands of additional public servants, including investigators, regulators, and administrative staff. Before becoming Attorney General, Grewal served as Bergen County Prosecutor, the chief law enforcement office of New Jersey’s most populous county. Earlier in his career, he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, where he served as Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit from 2014 to 2016 and oversaw the investigation and prosecution of all major white-collar and cybercrimes in the District of New Jersey. He also previously served as an AUSA in the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, where he was assigned to the Business and Securities Fraud Unit. Grewal worked in private practice from 1999-2004 and from 2008-2010.
Grewal graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in 1995. He obtained his law degree from the College of William & Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law in 1999.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County ranks among the top five percent of the nation’s “Healthiest Communities,” according to an analysis of health and wellness in 3,000 communities across the United States released by U.S. News & World Report in collaboration with the Aetna Foundation.
“Healthiest Communities” is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News & World Report with the Aetna Foundation. Guided by a pioneering framework developed by a committee appointed to advise the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the project scored nearly 3,000 communities on 84 indicators across 10 categories that drive overall community health.
Morris County ranked 20 among the top 500 “healthiest communities.”
Population health and equity are the most highly weighted factors in the methodology, followed closely by education and economy. Environment and public safety, along with housing, food and nutrition also were factors. Data were gathered and analyzed by the University of Missouri Center for Applied Research and Engagement Systems (CARES).
Separate from the rankings, the platform offers COVID-19 tracking tools which report case numbers, death rates, unemployment and more, and have been updated to include vaccine data. These tools complement the rankings data to reveal multiple correlations between the coronavirus pandemic and community health. Morris County has lead the state, and more recently the nation in overall vaccination rates, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
ABOUT U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT: U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower citizens, consumers, business leaders, and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News, and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice, and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
PARSIPPANY — Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce’s bill allowing New Jersey residents to contribute to a Pediatric Cancer Research Fund on their tax return forms cleared its final legislative hurdle Thursday to advance to the governor’s desk.
The bill (A3800/S1431) honors a young boy from West Milford, a town in DeCroce’s legislative district. Aaron Newton survived a neuroblastoma diagnosis he received at just 20 months old. His parents, Kerrie and Scott, have been advocates for childhood cancer awareness ever since.
“One of most the traumatic experiences for a parent is learning their child has cancer,” DeCroce (R-Morris) said. “Medical breakthroughs, and success stories like Aaron’s, start with cancer research. Through a voluntary check box on a tax return, we can commit funding to help little ones and their families beat cancer.”
The New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research, with assistance from an advisory group, will determine what projects will receive financial assistance from the fund. New Jersey medical institutions, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations focused on pediatric cancer cures, causes, prevention, education, screening, and treatment will receive priority funding.
Cats were found in an abandoned house on Troy Road
PARSIPPANY — A horrific scene was discovered in an abandoned home in Parsippany after the original owners regained entry after removing a squatter.
There were at least 25 cats and kittens confined to a small first-floor bedroom. The smell of cat urine could be detected before even entering the home, but that was nothing compared to the burning of eyes, nose, and throat once entering the room of horror where the terrified cats were located.
Obviously, the cats, some newborns, had been there for months, defecating and urinating on the floor. The waste was inches thick. Cats were found deceased and buried in waste. The windows were sealed and the smell of ammonia from the urine-soaked floor made it hard to breathe without a respirator.
Hundreds of paper plates were strewn on the floor to feed the cats
Hundreds of paper plates were strewn on the floor to feed the cats who were hiding on shelves, in the ceiling, and under cabinets to stay above the mess.
Many rescues were called to help as well as local Animal Controls but they were unable to help rescue the cats. Shelters are often full due to kitten breeding season and they have limited space and capacity.
Members of Wise Animal donned with hazmat protective clothing and respirators
When Wise Animal Rescue became aware of the situation they immediately developed a plan to begin the process of trapping the cats. Donned with hazmat protective clothing and respirators investigators and animal control specialists with WISE were able to safely trap five kittens and five adults on the first day of operations.
WISE is placing the cats in a large safe room where they will stay and be cared for temporarily until a better solution can be found.
WISE does not normally do rescues of this magnitude but they felt the situation warranted immediate action. A long-term solution and rescue are needed for all of the cats.
Please reach out to wiseanimalrescue@gmail.com if you are affiliated with an organization that can help!
WISE is a nonprofit organization and they are asking for your help. All donations can be made by clicking here.
This matter has been turned over to the authorities and is under investigation.
Ways to donate! Cash or check, by mail: PO Box 121 Lake Hiawatha, NJ 07034
Venmo: @wise-animalrescue
Volunteers removing the cats from a Troy Road home
The Parsippany Recycling Center is located at 1 Pump House Road.
PARSIPPANY —Parsippany’s Recycling Center will remain open Saturday, under regular business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
The regular business hours during the week are Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
For more information, please call the recycling and sanitation department at (973) 263-7263. The Parsippany Recycling Center is located at 1 Pump House Road.
Fireworks over the sky at Parsippany Hills High School
PARSIPPANY — For the first time in nearly 16 months, the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills will welcome residents back to an outdoor celebration, the 2021 Fourth of July Concert and Fireworks display, taking place at Parsippany Hills High School on Sunday, July 4 beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Thanks to the substantial financial support from Onyx Equities LLC, the Township is able to present an evening of fun and festivities for the community free of charge.
“I’m thrilled to be celebrating the summer and Independence Day with Parsippany again, enjoying our wonderful outdoors with family, friends, and neighbors,” said Mayor Soriano. “I can’t thank Onyx enough for this partnership to bring the community together to celebrate. It’s going to be a great experience, and I know we’re all ready for a much-needed night of fun.”
The public-private partnership between Onyx and the Township means there will be no expense to Parsippany residents for the event, which will include live music by Parsippany band Overboard, and fireworks beginning at dark.
“We’ve been in Parsippany since the early 2000s and it’s a great place to work and live,” said John Saraceno, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Onyx Equities. “We’re thrilled to be part of a community event that will be a safe and festive place for everyone to celebrate July 4th.”
Due to COVID-19 case numbers continuing to drop in Parsippany, and exceeding federal expectations for vaccinations, Mayor Soriano felt it was necessary to bring back the Fourth of July festivities in a safe and responsible manner. As of Friday, June 25, 90% of seniors, 67% of adults 18+, and 64% of all eligible Parsippany residents are fully vaccinated, with just five new cases of COVID-19 in the township in the past week.
“We’ll never forget the hardships our Township has been through over more than a year. But because of all the hard work and sacrifice our community has faced, it’s time we get to celebrate with one another like our community always has.”
Onyx Equities is a leading real estate investment and property services firm specializing in acquiring and/or managing commercial properties. Onyx has invested in significant operations in the township and is excited to help Parsippany celebrate this monumental return to outdoor gatherings for the whole community to enjoy.
For more information on Onyx Equities, LLC, click here.
For more information on the July Fourth Fireworks celebration, click here.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Candidate Justin Musella
PARSIPPANY — Council candidate Justin Musella released the following statement on the rapidly deteriorating situation with the Soriano Administration’s budget crisis.
“By attempting to place blame with the council for the township’s budget woes, Soriano has shown he is incapable of taking responsibility for his woeful mismanagement of our local government. Not only has he failed to introduce a balanced budget as required by law, but his behavior has also shown a complete lack of empathy for Township employees by using them as pawns for his political games. As pointed out in the Council’s bipartisan opposition to his budget gimmicks, it is Soriano’s sole constitutional role to present a budget and have it approved.
Reporting from Parsippany Focus and the Daily Record revealed Business Administrator Fred Carr sent an email to all department heads shifting the blame onto the Council and put into place a promotion, raise, and hiring freeze until further notice. Prior to this email, however, Soriano promoted his Public Information Officer to Confidential Aide with an accompanying $20,000 raise. This inappropriate and unfair action shows he is incapable of placing the public’s interest before his own and continues a streak of nepotistic mismanagement. I am calling on Soriano to take responsibility for his years of running our finances into the ground, work on introducing a reasonable budget, and stop blaming others for issues of his own creation. Instead of posting pictures on Facebook of his newly adopted cat, how about proposing a sound budget that the Council can adopt.”
Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani, Council President Michael dePierro, Councilwoman Emily Peterson, Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr., Councilwoman Janice McCarthy
PARSIPPANY — In an interoffice email from Parsippany-Troy Hills Business Administrator Fred Carr to “Department and Division Heads” he is quoted as saying “Based on our ongoing budget discussions, the time has come to take the following actions with regards to the 2021 yet to be introduced budget.” Effective immediately.
In order to provide a balanced budget recommendation as requested by the members of Council:
Most capital spending will be reduced/deferred until 2022, details to follow.
All scheduled overtime will cease. Unscheduled overtime as a result of emergencies needs to be closely controlled.
All Professional education or attendance at training, seminars, unless required by Collective Bargaining will cease. Individuals may choose to attend class or professional development at their own expense if desired, but the Township will be unable to reimburse them.
Attendance at the NJ League of Municipalities will not be reimbursed by the Township. This includes entry badges, hotels, meals, or travel expenses. This includes members of Boards and Commissions (aka planning and zoning, etc. plus all employees, Mayor and Council Members). Individuals may choose to attend the convention at their own expense.
We are in a hiring freeze and promotional freeze, wherever additional compensation is considered, effective immediately. Minor hiring allowed in Recreations to support summer programs starting soon can move forward.
Juan (referring to CFO Juan Uribe) and I will be meeting with selected Department Heads this week to fine-tune our numbers. Get out your pencils, sharpen them, and be prepared for considerable pain. We are now in the discussion of ending programs and services.
The Township Council did not request the budget cuts or create the budget shortfall that this Administration
Council President Michael dePierro
Council President Michael dePierro said “I just became aware of a June 21 email that was recently sent to all Township Department Heads by our Business Administrator that misrepresents a list of five very severe budget cuts developed BY THE ADMINISTRATION as being requested by the Township Council in order to balance the budget. This sends a wrong message to our employees and to the public. The Township Council did not request the budget cuts or create the budget shortfall that this Administration finds itself in … this falls upon the Administration. In producing the Township budget, the Administration must follow State mandates. The State of New Jersey mandates that all Municipalities produce:
A balanced budget (revenue equals expenses).
A budget that remains within the State mandated CAP.
A budget that follows the Appropriations CAP.
A budget that falls within the Levy CAP.
“As of June 22, the Township Council has not received a budget that is certified by the Township Auditor. The Auditor cannot certify the budget until the budget meets all of the State mandates. When the Administration finally submits a certified budget to the Council, we can then review the budget, make changes (if needed), and finally adopt it.”
“If the Administration is looking for advice on areas to cut, I would recommend all of the new, administrative positions that have been created in the past three years. The salary, pension, and benefits of many of those positions exceed six figures.”
“As I stated in a previously issued memo, “During a Mayor’s first year in office, he can blame the previous administration for almost anything and get away with it. During the second year, not so much. By the third year, the Mayor owns the budget and any poor fiscal practices are completely on him. If the Mayor has not started developing a Fund Balance to protect the Township in the last three years, that omission falls on him,” continued dePierro.”
“At the June 15 Council meeting, the Township Council gave the Business administrator a mandate. The Business Administrator distributed an email to department heads reflecting tax increases and budget cuts that would meet the Council’s demands. Since early May, Council President Michael dePierro has advocated for a 14.6% tax increase and felt that this was more suitable to Parsippany residents than borrowing on a low-interest special emergency note. As Mayor, I’m open to any discussion that doesn’t involve the Council’s astronomical tax hike.” said Mayor Michael Soriano.
Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr.
Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr. said “Months ago the council was presented with a budget by the administration that did not meet state regulations including but not limited to things that were listed as revenues that are not and can not be used as revenues. Therefore making it a “bogus” budget. The budget was deemed by the auditor and the state as to be in violation. Therefore the council requested the administration provide a budget that meets all state regulations. To say the council wants to raise taxes by 14% is ludicrous. We expect a budget from the administration that keeps a tax increase within the 2% cap and that meets all state regulations that we can review. Recently the council became aware of a directive to department heads addressing budget cuts. We have also become aware of an employee in the Mayor’s office and his administration receiving a new title and a $20,000 raise just before the memo to all department heads directing a hiring freeze, a cease in promotions, and overtime amongst other things. The timing of the memo just after this promotion and raise is again ludicrous. I support all our hard-working employees and to blame this budget crisis on the council and to take it out on our employees is not right and will not be tolerated.
Mayor Soriano blames the Township Council for the severe budget cuts that he must make, then he blames me for wanting a 14.6 % increase
dePierro replied in a Facebook post “I just read a preposterous statement made by Mayor Michael Soriano that “I advocated for a 14.6 % tax increase, and felt that this was more suitable to Parsippany residents than borrowing on a low-interest special emergency note”. The truth is, the unanimous Council decision not to borrow $5 million is that the taxpayers would have to pay back $1 million per year for five years plus interest. The Mayor had no idea how the Township would pay back that loan, he just wanted to kick the can down the road and get past this election year. First Mayor Soriano blames the Township Council for the severe budget cuts that he must make, then he blames me for wanting a 14.6 % increase. He takes no blame for the budget crisis that he, alone, is responsible for.”
“Regarding your June 21, 2021 email to the Department Heads, it is misleading to associate the five action items, determined and supported by the Administration, to reduce appropriations as if those actions were at the request of the Town Council. There is no reason to even mention the Town Council in your email. A balanced budget is collectively required by the State of NJ, Township Auditor, and Town Council. In order to avoid any misinterpretation, please send an email to the Department Heads clarifying your statement. Please include or send separately a copy of your email to Loretta Gragnani and me with a copy to Khaled Madin,” stated Vice President Janice McCarthy.
Business Administrator Fred Carr responded to Ms. McCarthy “Thank you for the email with regards to the 2021 Budget. I am aware that ” A balanced budget is collectively required by the State of NJ, Township Auditor, and Town Council.” The Council, during the meeting of 15 June 2021 asked that administration work with the Auditor and provide a balanced budget.”
When asking Mr. Carr if clarification was sent to the Department Heads, he replied I know that a clarification was not sent.
Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani
Council Vice President Loretta Gragnani said “As a member of the Finance Committee at no time during those meetings and Council Meetings were recommendations made to the budget. Currently, the Council has not received a balanced budget from the Administration and until one is received by the Council all revisions and recommendations are the responsibility of the Administration.”
“The budget has not been presented to the council. Until that happens, no budget decisions are at the command or recommendation of the Council. That decision-making responsibility sits solely with the administration until the decisions are complete. As I have said before: I look forward to seeing the Mayor’s completed budget at which time, the council will review the completed presentation,” said Councilwoman Emily Peterson.