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: 

1. Most capital spending will be reduced/deferred until 2022, details to follow.
2. All scheduled overtime will cease. Unscheduled overtime as a result of emergencies needs to be closely controlled.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 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. 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

“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 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.

PARSIPPANY — The official results in the Republican Primary Race has been updated.

The last update posted on the Morris County Elections website was on Tuesday, June 22 at 12:30 p.m.

According to the website, ballots cast at the polls, mail-in, and all provisional ballots have been counted.

Council candidate Frank Neglia leads Gary Martin by 46 votes. Candidates have ten days after the votes are certified to file for a recount.

There were a total of 797 mail-in ballots, with Lou Valori receiving 524 votes and James Barberio receiving 267; There were a total of 111 provisional ballots with Lou Valori receiving 64 votes and James Barberio receiving 47. Valori lost by a total of 183 votes.

James Barberio won 25 voting districts out of the 39 districts. Barberio received 51.90% of the votes and Valori received 47.86%.

Editors Note: This article was updated with the official results on Tuesday, June 22.

PARSIPPANY — The Republican Parsippany Primary Election is still not over. As of noon on Friday, June 18, provisional ballots are still pending. The election was held on Tuesday, June 8, or ten days ago and the results are still unofficial.

Morris County has 390,765 registered voters and only 56,086 ballots were cast or 14.35%.

The last update posted on the Morris County Elections website was on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at 10:51 a.m.

Although the Morris County Board of Elections would not disclose how many provisional votes were remaining uncounted in Parsippany, they assured me they would all be counted today and the final numbers will be released by the end of the day. Unconfirmed sources told Parsippany Focus there are approximately 130 provisional votes not counted.

Council candidate Frank Neglia leads Gary Martin by 72 votes.

A paper ballot (provisional ballot) is used by a voter when there is some problem in establishing a voter’s eligibility. The ballot will be counted only if election officials determine that the person was in fact entitled to vote.

PARSIPPANY — There has been an understandable concern in the community about the School Resource Officer program and its essential value to our students, teachers, and the Township.

It has been stated before, but it absolutely bears repeating under no uncertain terms: the SRO program must continue and will continue.

The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills is in full support of the SRO program. It is the shared belief of both the Township Council and Mayor Soriano that SRO and Class III officers are as important to our community as our entire police force. There has never been any wavering in support of this program.

As has been stated before, negotiations are ongoing. The discussion has never been about whether or not to fund the program – it will be funded. The discussion centers around where the funding comes from. It’s a critical discussion taking place between the Township, its Council, and the Board of Education. Whether funding comes from Board of Education budget, or the Township budget, the SRO Program is a shared service funded collectively by the Parsippany taxpayer.

The Mayor, Town Council, and the Board of Education all understand that this program is important when it comes to the safety of our schools, our students, and our teachers.

One thing must be emphasized throughout these negotiations: every single person involved in this discussion wants the same thing – to have a strong and supported SRO program. We all embrace the importance and immeasurable value of this program to our community, and it’s up to each and every one of us to come to a fair and equitable agreement in sustaining the program and all the incredible work being done.

As all parties involved look forward to an amenable agreement, it is important to remember that these negotiations are a process, guided by sound fiscal practices, and a commitment to protecting our schools. We are all confident that a fair solution to this matter will be reached in the weeks to come.