The former Lake French Cleaners at 02 N Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha.
PARSIPPANY — The partially boarded-up Lake French Cleaners at 102 North Beverwyck Road, originally constructed in 1952 and renovated in 1992, is set to be transformed into a new pizzeria location.
On Monday, January 8, the Parsippany-Troy Hills Planning Board approved a variance for application 23:518, submitted by Petocz Lake Hiawatha, LLC., allowing for the transformation of the property into a pizzeria. The owners have confirmed that the new establishment will be named “Pizzanada,” drawing inspiration from another location they currently own in Bloomfield.
Discover a Variety of Vegan Specials, Featuring Homemade Pumpkin Ravioli, Spanish Ravioli, Vegan Meat Lasagna, and a Wide Selection of Vegan Delights, including Vegan Empanadas. Click here to preview their Bloomfield location menu.
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA headquarters in Parsippany. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. is an Israeli multinational pharmaceutical company.
PARSIPPANY — Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox secured a victory on behalf of Teva Pharmaceuticals in the U.S. Court District Court for the District of New Jersey in a case involving a patent-infringement suit filed by Corcept Therapeutics. On December 29, 2023, the district court held that Teva does not infringe the two patents asserted at trial, finding that Corcept had failed to show that direct infringement is likely or that Teva’s label would induce infringement.
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of generic and proprietary drug products. Teva applied for FDA approval to market a generic version of Korlym (mifepristone), a drug indicated to control hyperglycemia secondary to hypercortisolism in adult patients with endogenous Cushing’s syndrome who have type II diabetes mellitus or glucose intolerance and have failed surgery or are not candidates for surgery.
Corcept Therapeutics, Inc., the holder of the Korlym NDA, filed a Hatch-Waxman lawsuit against Teva alleging infringement of two patents listed in the Orange Book for Korlym.
The suit grew to include nine patents, all of which cover methods of use of mifepristone, but all but two patents were dropped before trial. The case went to trial in September 2023.
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. is located at 400 Interpace Parkway.
Allowing breweries, wineries, and distilleries to host unlimited events and private parties on their premises and up to 25 special events off-site.
MORRIS COUNTY — The state of New Jersey is set to implement changes to its craft brewery and retail license laws after a bill received unanimous support from both chambers of the state Legislature on January 8. The bill, sponsored by Democratic state Senators Vin Gopal, Paul Sarlo, and Troy Singleton, proposes several significant changes to the existing regulations affecting breweries, wineries, and distilleries in the state.
Some of the key provisions of the bill include:
Allowing breweries, wineries, and distilleries to host unlimited events and private parties on their premises and up to 25 special events off-site.
Permitting these establishments to sell food items like chips, nuts, and other packaged snacks. They can also coordinate with external vendors such as food trucks and restaurants to serve food on their premises.
Eliminating the requirement that breweries must give patrons a tour of their facilities before they can consume alcohol.
Activating some of the 1,400 inactive liquor licenses (known as pocket licenses) that have not been used by restaurants or bars for at least eight years. If a license remains dormant for two years, it will expire and may be auctioned off or extended by the municipality.
Allowing communities to issue special licenses for establishments in shopping malls, with up to two additional licenses for towns with malls larger than 750,000 square feet and up to four additional licenses for towns with malls larger than 1.5 million square feet.
Permitting towns to transfer one dormant license per year and two every five years to a neighboring municipality in need of more licenses.
Establishing a farm brewery license for operators who engage in farming and wish to brew malt alcoholic beverages (up to 2,500 barrels of 31 fluid gallons a year) and sell them on their premises.
These changes are seen as a positive step for the state’s craft brewing and distilling industry, allowing it to grow and prosper. However, it’s worth noting that this bill represents a scaled-down version of broader changes that Governor Phil Murphy had previously pushed for in an effort to modernize the state’s Prohibition-era liquor license laws.
The bill’s passage has received mixed reactions, with some stakeholders applauding the progress made while others express concerns about certain restrictions, particularly regarding the transfer of inactive licenses and the overall affordability of liquor licenses in the state. The New Jersey League of Municipalities questions the limitation on transferring inactive licenses to contiguous municipalities, as it may not address the shortage of available liquor licenses in some areas.
Downtown New Jersey and the NJ Liquor License Reform Alliance believe that while this bill is a step in the right direction, it does not fully address the affordability issue and equity concerns related to liquor licenses in the state. They plan to continue advocating for more progressive reforms in the future.
MORRIS COUNTY — Statement from Assemblyman Barranco: Why I Will Not Vote for a Pay Increase for the State Legislature:
“At a time when many individuals and families in New Jersey are struggling to make ends meet; and at a time when so many middle-class homeowners and business owners are suffering the crushing impact of the highest property taxes in the nation, it is the height of insensitivity for the state lawmakers to give themselves a 67 percent pay increase.
“Instead of thinking about themselves, the legislators should be thinking about the people paying the taxes and retirees who have not had a simple cost of living increase in 12 years.
“It is shameful that the legislators most responsible for the high cost of living in New Jersey – the legislators, who six months ago approved the biggest budget in state history – would now think of rewarding themselves rather than working to relieve the financial burden they have placed on their constituents.
“I cannot in good conscience vote for a pay increase for the legislature until we start addressing the economic and tax issues that are harming New Jersey’s working people.”
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany Senior Center is home to the ”Lake Hiawatha Community Center Social Bingo Club.”
If you are an older Parsippany resident and enjoy getting together with others to play Bingo, feel free to drop by and join us! You do not have to be a Lake Hiawatha resident to participate. Bingo is held every Tuesday and Thursday, at 12:30 p.m., at the Parsippany Senior Center, 1130 Knoll Road, Lake Hiawatha.
For any questions, please call the Office on Aging at (973) 263-7351.
Reprinted from Parsippany Focus Magazine, February 2024. Click here to view the magazine.
PARSIPPANY — Governor Phil Murphy has declared a State of Emergency for the entire State of New Jersey effective 5:00 p.m. tonight due to anticipated heavy rains and winds. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a flood watch for Morris County, including Parsippany, from 1:00 p.m. today, through Wednesday afternoon. A high-wind advisory will be in effect from 5:00 p.m. through 3:00 a.m. tomorrow.
The storm is forecasted to bring heavy rain of 2 to 3 inches, with localized higher amounts of up to 4 inches possible later today and tonight, and winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 55 mph. The Parsippany Office of Emergency Management continues to monitor the storm as it enters our area.
Flooding is likely in low-lying areas. The ground remains very saturated following multiple rounds of heavy rainfall over the last month. The combination of snow melt and heavy rain may significantly elevate the flooding risk.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) has been out opening up catch basins in problem areas. All Township events scheduled for this evening are canceled and residents are urged to remain off the roads so first responders and public safety officials can safely respond to emergencies.
Please report power outages and downed wires to JCP&L at 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877), clicking the “Report Outage” click here, or by texting “OUT” to 544487.
Residents may call The Township of Parsippany – Troy Hills Police Department at (973) 263-4300 to report non-emergency issues. For all emergencies, please call 911.
MORRIS COUNTY — Legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Pennacchio and Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco that would provide course credits for high school students who become volunteer firefighters was approved today by the New Jersey Senate.
“New Jersey is suffering from a severe shortage of first responders,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “By incentivizing high school students to become volunteer firefighters in their municipalities, students can earn credits to meet certain graduation requirements. This bill provides an innovative solution to reduce New Jersey’s firefighter shortage and promotes educational opportunities for students outside of the classroom.”
The legislation, S-3901, would permit students to be eligible for credits in health, safety, and physical education for completing a course at a county fire academy, provided they meet certain criteria.“Firefighting is a skilled profession that is necessary to ensure the safety of our communities,” Bucco added. “This bill enables students to receive their education while simultaneously serving as vital public servants.”To receive credits, a student must be between 16 and 18 years old, complete an examination to become a junior firefighter, and volunteer at their local fire department for two years.
Marotta receives award in support of Lockheed’s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) business area
PARSIPPANY — Marotta Controls, a rapidly growing Aerospace and Defense supplier, announced that it received the Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) Elite Supplier Award today. This accolade takes into consideration a variety of factors, including delivery of reliable, quality parts, products, and services on time and at competitive prices; the alignment of supplier’s values with Lockheed Martin values; and the supplier’s track record of proactively solving problems. Marotta Controls’ Marine Business Unit is among 37 suppliers receiving this honor; honorees represent the top one percent of suppliers supporting the RMS business area.
“This most recent award acknowledges the strength of our long-standing relationship with Lockheed Martin as a whole in which trust, collaboration, and on-time/on-budget delivery have been standard practices, across divisions and programs,” said Bill Dimas, Vice President, Business Development, Marotta Controls. “Our work with the RMS division extends our commitment to Lockheed’s success, and our designation as an Elite Supplier recognizes the hard work and dedication that goes into ensuring that we deliver on our promises – every time.”
Marotta’s Elite Supplier Award accomplishment is a result of Marotta’s contributions to the Aegis Combat System, the Navy’s most modern surface combat system. It was designed as a complete system: the missile launching element, the computer programs, the radar, and the displays are fully integrated to work together. This makes the Aegis system the first fully integrated combat system built to defend against advanced air and surface threats. Marotta has supplied three vital parts for Aegis:
Marotta’s Automatic Source Transfer Valve (ASTV) system provides digital control of chilled water from the main supply lines to mission-critical enclosures (MCE)
Marotta’s Integrated Electronic Controller (IEC) was developed to modernize auxiliary control functions within shipboard Mission Critical Enclosures (MCE)
Marotta’s MFV12 Motor Operated Valve Series provides proportional control of chilled water flow to ensure stable temperature control of the electronics within each Mission Critical Enclosure (MCE)
Marotta designs, develops, manufactures, and qualifies high-performance motion and flow control solutions for surface ships, submarines, and deep submergence vessels. The company’s components and systems meet stringent naval requirements and MIL standards for shock, vibration, low acoustic signature, and resistance to seawater corrosion. Having pioneered next-generation technologies that use advanced materials and embedded electronics, Marotta has reduced these critical parts’ weight, life cycle cost, size, and corrosion sensitivity.
Marotta has invested heavily in its relationship with Lockheed Martin. Over the past 13 years, the partnership has yielded:
The development of 20+ new products
Delivery of 40,000+ units
6 franchise production programs
18 current programs (11 development programs and 7 production programs)
For more information about the Marotta Controls marine system capabilities click here.
PARSIPPANY — Ami Balli, a graduate of Morris Hills High School, excelled during the Fall 2023 semester at Hofstra, achieving a GPA of at least 3.5 to earn a spot on the Dean’s List. Ami’s major is Psychology.
Hofstra University is a dynamic community of nearly 11,000 students dedicated to civic engagement, academic excellence, and becoming leaders in their communities and their careers.
Students can choose from approximately 175 undergraduate program options and 200 graduate program options in the liberal arts and sciences, education, health professions and human services, the Peter S. Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy and International Affairs, the Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Frank G. Zarb School of Business, the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication, the Maurice A. Deane School of Law, the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies, and the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and Chief Thomas Miller of the Chatham Township Police Department have confirmed the charging of Nafis H. Wiggins, 25, of Newark.
Wiggins faces a litany of charges, including two counts of Human Trafficking (a first-degree crime), two counts of Luring (a second-degree crime), five counts of Sexual Assault (a second-degree crime), two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (a third-degree crime), Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) with Intent to Distribute (a third-degree crime), and Possession of a CDS (a third-degree crime) under N.J.S.A. statutes.
The charges stem from alleged actions between August 1 and September 28, 2023, during which Wiggins is accused of providing narcotics to two victims, aged 14 and 15, in exchange for sexual favors. He reportedly recruited and lured the minors through text messages. On several occasions, it is alleged that Wiggins met with the victims in Chatham Township and Chatham Borough, later transporting them in his vehicle to more isolated locations for drug use and sexual activities.
Wiggins was apprehended on December 19, 2023, at Cougar Field in Chatham Township, where he was found in possession of a controlled substance.
Following a detention hearing in compliance with the Criminal Justice Reform Act, the defendant was remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility.
Individuals with information on this investigation are urged to contact the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit at (973) 285-6200.
Prosecutor Carroll expresses gratitude to the Chatham Township Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office’s Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit for their diligent efforts in the investigation and arrest.
Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the individual(s) are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law
PARSIPPANY — On Friday, December 22, at 11:13 a.m., a collision occurred when Ms. Anna Greenlees, 76, attempted to make a left turn from Brooklawn Drive onto Littleton Road (Route 202). The incident involved Mr. Tyrone Stevens, who was traveling south on Littleton Road.
During the collision, Ms. Greenlees’ vehicle struck the curb and veered off the roadway to the right, coming to a rest at that location. According to Ms. Greenlees, her attention was focused on the right, and she did not notice the approaching Mohawk Carpet Distribution tractor-trailer when she initiated her left turn onto Littleton Road. On the other hand, Mr. Stevens reported that he was driving straight on Littleton Road and observed Ms. Greenlees turning in front of him. He attempted to swerve but ultimately collided with her vehicle.
The investigating Parsippany-Troy Police Officer, Sean Golden, determined that Ms. Greenlees was at fault for the accident, citing her failure to yield the right of way and driver inattention as contributing factors.
Following the collision, Ms. Greenlees was transported to Morristown Memorial Hospital with injuries of unknown severity.
Both vehicles were towed from the scene by C&L Towing.
As of the time of this report, no summonses had been issued in connection with the incident.
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Commissioner Stephen H. Shaw was elected Secretary of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) Board of Trustees at the January 8 meeting.
“I thank my fellow Board members for electing me and I look forward to serving on the Executive Committee,” Commissioner Shaw said. “The NJTPA provides a vital regional perspective on transportation issues, whether supporting the key role that freight plays in our local economy or prioritizing funding for much-needed local safety improvements, like those the county is studying for East Main Street/Mendham Road in Mendham Borough and Mendham Township and South Morris Street in the Town of Dover.”
The NJTPA oversees regional transportation planning and annually authorizes more than $1 billion in federal surface transportation funding for 13 counties in northern and central New Jersey.
The Executive Committee provides guidance and leadership to the full Board on a wide range of planning, policy, and administrative issues. It meets as needed to review financial, personnel, and policy matters. Board membership is an uncompensated position.
Commissioner Shaw has been in office since 2019 and joined the NJTPA Board in 2023, following the retirement of Morris County Commissioner Kathryn DeFillippo, who had previously represented the county on the board. This is his first time serving on the Executive Committee. He has also served as a member of the Planning & Economic Development Committee.
At the meeting, the NJTPA Board also selected four other members of its Executive Committee. The elected members of the Executive Committee are Ocean County Commissioner John P. Kelly, chair; Middlesex County Commissioner Charles Kenny, first vice-chair; and Warren County Commissioner Jason Sarnoski, second vice-chair. Following the bylaws, Chairman John W. Bartlett appointed Union County Commissioner Bette Jane Kowalski to the position of third vice-chair.
The NJTPA is the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for 13 northern New Jersey counties. Under federal legislation, MPOs provide a forum where local officials, public transportation providers, and state agency representatives can come together and cooperatively plan to meet the region’s current and future transportation needs. It establishes the region’s eligibility to receive federal tax dollars for transportation projects.
The NJTPA Board consists of one local elected official from each of the 13 counties in the region (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren), and the cities of Newark and Jersey City. The Board also includes a Governor’s Representative, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the Executive Director of NJ TRANSIT, the Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and a Citizen’s Representative appointed by the Governor.
PARSIPPANY — In a recent incident on Saturday, December 30 at 5:32 p.m. at Tivoli Gardens on Parsippany Boulevard, Bipin Patel, found himself in legal trouble after colliding with a parked vehicle. The details of the incident unfolded as follows:
Ms. Elizabeth Foster, the owner of the parked vehicle, a blue 2013 GMC Sierra, reported the crash. She claimed that Mr. Patel, who was driving a 2006 Black Honda CRV, collided with her truck. Upon police arrival, Patrolman Sean Abrusci observed the Honda parked diagonally across two parking spots.
Ms. Foster mentioned smelling alcohol on Mr. Patel’s breath and noted that he had attempted to back away from the accident multiple times before parking diagonally. This led the officer to approach Mr. Patel, who was still seated in his vehicle and detect the strong scent of alcohol.
During the subsequent conversation, Mr. Patel initially stated that a flat tire caused the accident but later admitted to using his cellphone’s GPS while driving. When questioned about his destination, he mentioned making a delivery and then said he was returning from work.
The officer noticed bloodshot and watery eyes and asked Mr. Patel to turn off the vehicle and step out. Mr. Patel’s impaired ability to stand, marked by swaying and staggering, led the officer to request backup.
Sergeant Edward Conklin arrived at the scene, and Patrolman Abrusci proceeded to conduct standard field sobriety tests, which Mr. Patel failed. Frustrated, Mr. Patel eventually confessed to being intoxicated.
Following his admission, Mr. Patel was transported to Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Headquarters, where he was read his Miranda rights. During questioning, he admitted to buying and consuming a bottle of Bacardi from a local liquor store in the parking lot before driving.
An ALCOTEST (breath alcohol test) revealed Mr. Patel had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .24%, well above the legal limit of 0.08% in New Jersey.
As a result of the incident, Mr. Patel faces several charges, including Operating Under the Influence (39:4-50), Reckless Driving (39:4-96), Use of a hand-held wireless telephone (39:4-97.3), and Traffic on marked lanes (39:4-88).
A witness also reported seeing Mr. Patel swerving in the northbound lane of Parsippany Boulevard.
Mr. Patel was released to a friend who read and signed the “John’s Law.”
He is scheduled to appear at Parsippany Municipal Court to address the charges filed against him.
Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the individual(s) are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
PARSIPPANY — Daniel Garcia, a graduate of Parsippany Hills High School Class of 2018, has been accepted for enrollment for the 2023 summer trimester in the Doctor of Chiropractic degree program at Palmer College of Chiropractic’s Main Campus in Davenport, Iowa.
In May 2022, Daniel successfully completed his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Palmer College of Chiropractic, the first and largest college in the chiropractic profession, has campuses in Davenport, Iowa; San Jose, California; and Port Orange, Florida.
Reprinted from Parsippany Focus Magazine, January 2024. Click here to read the magazine.
Mike Powers, CEO & President with Leandra Lopes, Assistant Branch Manager of Newark Branch and Stephanie Parise, Branch Manager of Parsippany Branch
PARSIPPANY — Garden Savings Federal Credit Union announced the certification of two of its team members as financial counselors.
The newly certified counselors are Stephanie Parise, and Leandra Lopes who have completed the CUNA Credit Union Financial Counseling Program offered through the CrossState Credit Union Association.
Stephanie Parise, Branch Manager of Parsippany Branch.
With these two new certified financial counselors, Garden Savings FCU now boasts six certified financial counselors, with at least one available at each branch. This expanded team is well-equipped to offer personalized financial guidance and support to members seeking to gain control of their finances and address challenging financial issues.
Garden Savings Federal Credit Union is located at 129 Littleton Road.
Garden Savings Federal Credit Union is a member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce.
Reprinted from Parsippany Focus Magazine, January 2024. Click here to read the magazine.
Flag Presentation by the Morris County Sheriff's Department
MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Commissioner Christine Myers was sworn in for a year-long term as director of the seven-member Board of County Commissioners tonight, following swearing-in ceremonies for Commissioner Tayfun Selen and County Clerk Ann F. Grossi.
Commissioner Myers was sworn in as Director of the Board by her nephew, attorney Robert Ferguson III, as the Commissioner’s husband, Stan Gorski, held the bible.
Commissioner Myers was sworn in as Director of the Board by her nephew, attorney Robert Ferguson III, as the Commissioner’s husband, Stan Gorski, held the bible.
“This board is committed again this year to meet with our local leaders and nonprofits to address the challenges and work together on concrete solutions to foster a greater engagement. The timing is right – because we have a unique milestone approaching that offers a phenomenal opportunity for volunteerism and collaboration: the 250th Anniversary of our Independence. It is a chance to re-engage our community, properly honor our national heritage, and boost our tourism and local economy,” said Director Myers.
County Commissioner Shaw is sworn in as deputy director by Sen. Anthony Bucco, as Shaw’s wife, Cindy, holds the bible.
Stephen H. Shaw will serve as deputy director for 2024. The commissioners elect the director and deputy director from among themselves.
Commissioner Shaw, who served as director in 2021, was sworn in as deputy director of the board by Sen. Anthony Bucco, as Shaw’s wife, Cindy, held the bible.
Rounding out the Board of Commissioners are John Krickus, Douglas R. Cabana, Thomas J. Mastrangelo, and Deborah Smith.
Senator Jon Bramnick administered the oath of office as Selen’s wife, Tulin, held the bible.
The meeting opened with the swearing-in of Commissioner Selen, who was reelected in November to his second, three-year term. Senator Jon Bramnick administered the oath of office as Selen’s wife, Tulin, held the bible.
Commissioner Selen
“During my first term as Commissioner, I said I would not disappoint you. For my next term, I will work even harder to make Morris County the best-run county not just in New Jersey, but in the country! It is an honor to serve on this board and from the bottom of my heart, thank you for electing me again and putting your trust in me to do this job,” said Commissioner Selen during his acceptance speech.
County Clerk Grossi is sworn in by Superior Court Judge Louis S. Sceusi. The bible was held by her daughter, Nicole, who was accompanied by her boyfriend, Michael Themistocleous.
County Clerk Grossi, who was re-elected in November to serve her third, five-year term, was sworn in by Superior Court Judge Louis S. Sceusi. The bible was held by her daughter, Nicole, who was accompanied by her boyfriend, Michael Themistocleous.
Morris County Clerk Grossi
The annual Morris County Reorganization Meeting was held in person in the Commissioners’ 5th-floor public meeting room at the Morris County Administration & Records Building.
Returning for the event was the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Joint Honor Guard and Sheriff James M. Gannon conducted the pledge of allegiance. They were joined by a crowd of well-wishers, family, friends, and public officials packing into the meeting room.
The National Anthem was sung by Ella Conroy and Victoria Cooney
The National Anthem was sung by Ella Conroy and Victoria Cooney who are 11th grade students at the Morris County Vocational School. Ella is in the Academy for Design and Victoria is in the Academy for Biotechnology. Culinary students from the vocational school also provided a bevy of snacks and drinks for attendees.
The invocation and benediction were provided by Father Owen Moran, Pastor of St. Vincent Martyr in Madison and Catholic Chaplain for the Morris County Correctional Facility.
The Morris County Board of County Commissioners will hold their next work session and regular meeting on January 10, 2024. The work session begins at 5:00 p.m. and the regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. The meetings will continue to be held in public in the Administration & Records Building.
2018 Ford Escort Engulfed in Flames at Wendy's Parking Lot
PARSIPPANY — Jean Etienne, an employee from Performance Ford, was driving a 2018 Ford Escort west on Route 10 when he detected the smell of gasoline. This incident unfolded on Monday, December 26, at 1:52 p.m.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire Department District 6 swiftly responded to the scene and successfully extinguished the fire.
Upon noticing the odor, he promptly veered off Route 10 and pulled into the Wendy’s parking lot located at 1860 Route 10 West. It was at this point that the vehicle erupted in flames. Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire Department District 6 swiftly responded to the scene and successfully extinguished the fire.
The vehicle was owned by Performance Ford of East Hanover, LLC.
Subsequently, Performance Ford arranged for the vehicle’s removal from the property. Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Officer Gregory Lowe and Daniel Sisco were present at the scene to assist.
Performance Ford arranged for the vehicle’s removal from the property.
Wendy Wright, Andy Choffo, and Timothy Berrios, were sworn into office by the Board of Education Attorney, Kathryn Glifillan.
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education convened its 2024 Reorganization Meeting on Thursday, January 5.
The incoming members, Timothy Berrios, Andy Choffo, and Wendy Wright, were sworn into office by the Board of Education Attorney, Kathryn Glifillan.
The new members signing the Oath of OfficeAndy Choffo was elected to serve as the Board of Education President
Andy Choffo, a newly elected returning board member, was elected President. In his statement, he expressed his anticipation of collaborative efforts with fellow board members and the administration to ensure a successful 2024.
Susy Golderer was elected to serve as the Board of Education Vice President
Susy Golderer, an incumbent member, was elected as Vice President of the Board.
During the public comments, Frank Neglia, the newly appointed Council Vice President, reiterated the Township’s stance on the recently approved PILOT projects and Justin Musella also spoke.
The reorganization meeting of the Parsippany Board of Education was attended by members of the public
PARSIPPANY — An attempted home and vehicle break-in were captured on a Ring camera, this morning, Friday, January 5 at approximately 4:40 a.m. The suspects attempted from multiple entrances before fleeing.
This occurred in the lower Lake Hiawatha area, in the Vail Road vicinity.
If you see any suspicious activity, don’t hesitate to contact the Parsippany Police Department at (973) 263-4300.
Attempted break-in
Additional Information from Parsippany Police Department
During the early morning hours of January 5th, we had two different attempts to gain entry into residences within our Township. We believe the goal during each burglary attempt was to steal high-end vehicles from their driveways.
At approximately 4:20 a.m., a male attempted to break into a residence on Old Bloomfield Avenue through a front window. The occupants woke up due to the noise created by the suspect at which time they turned on their interior lights and activated the alarm system. The suspect fled the area and the victim immediately called 911.
attempted to break into a residence on Old Bloomfield Avenue
At approximately 4:29 a.m., a male was observed on CCTV footage attempting to gain entry to an Audi parked at a residence on Winfield Drive. When the suspect could not get into the locked vehicle, he attempted to gain entry into the home through the rear door of the house. The suspect fled when the occupants inside the house woke up.
It is believed both incidents involved the same suspect. During the second attempt, the homeowner delayed reporting the incident. The Police Department must be notified as soon as possible so officers can effectively search the area immediately after an incident for suspect(s).
These incidents are currently under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact (973) 263-4300 and speak with a Detective.
Over the past six months, the Parsippany Council and Administration have put on a master class on how to alienate voters, minimize transparency, and ram through unpopular ordinances. As most readers know, the issue at hand is the use of PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) agreements that give large tax abatements to commercial developers, allowing them to forgo paying the school system portion of the total tax bill. This culminated in a seven-and-a-half hour-long meeting on December 28 with about 700 to 800 residents in attendance at which three PILOT-based ordinances were passed with many residents speaking in opposition and none speaking in favor. Even the Parsippany Board of Education is opposed to the use of PILOTS and was not swayed by any data presented. This was a very messy, opaque, unsatisfactory, and often inflammatory process that enabled the use of many cherry-picked data points and misleading assertions and never produced a clear analysis of the impacts of the PILOTs on taxes. Parsippany needs a better process for dealing with such contentious issues going forward.
Unfortunately, the post-COVID business environment has created a glut of office space nationwide as businesses have found that workers can be effective from home offices. Now that Parsippany has provided four PILOTs (including the 1515 Route 10 building), we can expect many other office-building owners to ask for similar tax reductions as their tenants’ leases expire and every developer will certainly ask for this treatment for new buildings. Retail space owners will also look for relief as their businesses are affected by online competition. Parsippany needs a better process for evaluating PILOTS and more importantly, informing, educating, and dialoguing with residents on the pros and cons of PILOTS or any other tax abatement program. Even though the three PILOT ordinances were passed, there is no better place to start developing such an approach than by conducting a post-mortem analysis of these three agreements and the associated resident communications/education process because there is so much history and so much detailed information available. Who knows, perhaps after such an effort some or most residents might agree with these PILOTs or the effort might convince the mayor and some on the council to stop, significantly modify, or change the criteria for such agreements. In any case, the objective should be to have an agreed-upon process and decision criteria for such assessments in the future.
The town council and mayor must commit to full transparency and good-faith communications. The current information process is not transparent. PILOT agreements are complex with multiple subjective assumptions such as discount rates, children added to the school system, the need for long-term contracts, alternative uses of the properties, etc. The current three PILOT agreements started to take shape over the summer of 2023. However, it was not until only two hours before the meeting on December 28, that the mayor sent out an email with a few cherry-picked, unverifiable data points in a last-minute attempt to sway public perception. During the meeting, residents were shown financial analyses they had never seen before. The data was hard to see, hard to hear, and very hard to evaluate and many asked why this had not been provided previously. Partially true statements from the council, such as the assertion that the schools would be funded because they submit their budget to the town and the town collects the money, could not be discussed.
The current communication process is not conducted in good faith. The council and mayor used tactics such as pushing to get these PILOT ordinances passed before the end of the year, without providing full information to residents. Poor transparency is invariably perceived as acting in bad faith. They changed the normal council agenda to first vote on the ordinances before allowing the general public speaking portion. They scheduled a meeting at 1:00 p.m., making it more difficult for working residents to attend. They used an excuse created by the town lawyer who said there were critical non-PILOT items that needed to be passed before year-end and meeting at 1:00 p.m. was the only way to address all items on the agenda. (If the non-PILOT issues were so critical, why did they not take the PILOT ordinances off the agenda to get the non-PILOT issues passed and move the PILOT ordinances to 2024?) They allowed only 1.5 minutes for comments from each resident. While all these actions may have been aboveboard, they appeared to be in bad faith and created the perception of an ulterior motive involving the council, mayor, developers, and the developers’ attorney. If the Mayor and council thought these PILOTs were such a good deal for taxpayers, they should have communicated better and shown the residents and the School Board the numbers and assumptions to prove it.
Below is a description of a highly transparent, good-faith process for dealing with this issue. It is recommended that the council and mayor adopt these principles. At the end of this process, there should be much more agreement than disagreement among the parties. This should be applied to the recent PILOT agreements to both test the process and explore its benefits.
Provide complete information for stakeholders (residents and school board) at the start of the project and continue to update it as the project progresses.
Start by developing a template that provides detailed, comprehensive information on these programs and includes costs, revenues for each project, and a comprehensive bottom-line analysis of the total impacts on taxes (town and schools) both with and without the PILOT agreements. Show all the pros and cons of the agreement.
Provide this template to the stakeholders, obtain feedback and stakeholder buy-in, and finalize.
Fill in the template for the projects including statements and support for all assumptions such as the number of additional children that would attend Parsippany schools, alternative uses of the properties, etc.
Publicize this information and hold a Q&A session for the stakeholders to address all questions and refine the information based on the answers. This should be done with a flexible time limit on each question to explore it completely and a commitment to provide answers to all reasonable questions. Such a session need not be part of a formal council meeting, as has been done with budget developments.
Demonstrate that the timeframes for decisions are reasonable and address stakeholder concerns.
As new data is developed on any project, the public template must be updated and additional Q&A sessions held, if needed.
The mayor and council must work to address the needs of the school board such that they either support the programs or are neutral. The council cannot expect the public to be in favor of programs the school board finds objectionable.
Finally, the mayor and council must show the same respect for the stakeholders that the council requests in meetings. The mayor and council must recognize that they have complete power and the public’s only recourses are their arguments, letters, and their physical voices and actions. When the council minimizes transparency and takes actions that are perceived as being in bad faith the public feels disrespected and reacts, often with rowdy behavior because they feel that is the only way they can have an effect. When the council tells them to be respectful, the public perceives the council as being, at best, oblivious to the disrespect they have demonstrated towards the public.
