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.
Senate Clears Pennacchio/Bucco Bill that Would Credit Students for Completing Fire Academy Courses
Marotta Controls Named Lockheed Martin Elite Supplier
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.
Ami Balli Named to Fall 2023 Dean’s List at Hofstra University
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.
Newark Man Faces Multiple Charges Including Human Trafficking and Child Endangerment
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
Collision on Littleton Road Involving Elderly Driver Results in Hospitalization
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 Commissioner Stephen Shaw was Elected Secretary of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority
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 Man Arrested for Drunk Driving After Colliding with Parked Vehicle
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.
Daniel Garcia Accepted for Enrollment at Palmer College of Chiropractic
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.
Garden Savings Federal Credit Union Announces Certification of Two Team Members as Financial Counselors
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.
Morris County Government Undergoes Restructuring for 2024
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.
“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.
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.
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.
“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, 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.
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 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 Caught Fire in a 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.
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.
Parsippany Board of Education Members Elects Andy Choffo as President
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.
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, 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.
Lake Hiawatha Resident Experienced an Attempted Break-in at a Residence and Vehicle
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.
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.
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.
Letter to the Editor: A Better Way for Parsippany to Deal with PILOT Agreements & Tax Abatements
Dear Editor:
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.
Ken Dolsky
Parsippany
Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Meeting Scheduled for January 16
PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, January 16th, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will occur in the Council Chambers, located at 1001 Parsippany Boulevard within the Parsippany Municipal Building.
Formal action may or may not be taken.
Any individual who is a qualified disabled person under the Americans with Disabilities Act may request auxiliary aids such as a sign interpreter or a tape recorder to be used for the meeting. Auxiliary aids must be requested at least 72 hours before the meeting date. Please call (973) 263-4351 to request an auxiliary aid.
Click here for a copy of the agenda.
Click here for the 2024 calendar.
Mayor James Barberio
Council President Paul Carifi, Jr.
Council Vice President Frank Neglia
Councilman Justin Musella
Councilman Matt McGrath
Councilwoman Judy Hernandez
Registration for the Par-Troy Little League West Spring Baseball/Softball Season is Currently Available
Little League International specifies the age cutoffs for Baseball and Softball annually.
Softball ages are determined as of December 31 of the year before the Spring season in which they will be playing. For example, in 2024, the age is as of December 31, 2023.
Baseball ages are determined as of August 31 of the year in which they are playing. For example, in 2024, the age is as of August 31, 2023.
Children in the league are not placed in divisions based on grade level.
Click here for the registration link, and to download the updated 2024 flyer click here.
Par-Troy West Little League is a non-profit IRS 501.C.3 organization, established in 1952. The league is run by a Board of Directors, all of whom are volunteers.
PTWLL receives no outside local, state, or federal financial aid to operate our program. All funds are received through donations, fundraisers, sponsors, and registration fees. All funds are used to maintain our fields and to pay for all services, insurance, utilities, equipment, and uniforms.
PTWLL is in full compliance with all Little League Rules and Regulations. They have an approved charter that is approved regularly for every season by Little League Headquarters. Their approved By-Laws, which are quite similar to approved By-Laws of the past and those of other Little League organizations, have been approved by Little League International Headquarters in Williamsport, PA.
Parsippany Expands GovPilot Partnership Through The Purchase of Additional Government Management Software
PARSIPPANY — The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills has implemented additional government management software solutions into their municipal offices throughout 2023 to automate processes, digitally manage data, and engage citizens via the cloud with GovPilot – the Operating System for Local Governments.
In collaboration with GovPilot, a government management software provider based in New Jersey, this municipality of Morris County, expanded a partnership that will allow the local government to access new, modern, software solutions across the municipality.
This partnership aims to provide both citizens and government officials with simplified access to data and information that will save valuable time and resources across the board. GovPilot’s customer success rates and stellar reviews set this government management software provider apart from all others, streamlining the implementation of new software solution deployments efficiently and successfully for Parsippany Township.
Parsippany added the following solutions to expand their GovPilot partnership:
•Retail Food License Module
•Retail Food Inspection Module
•Public Recreational Bathing Module
•Summer Camp Permit Module
•Health Licensing Module
•Temporary Food License Module
•Septic Permit Module
•Miscellaneous Health Records Module
All additional software solutions deployed by Parsippany will continue to simplify and digitize once manual, paper-based government processes, allowing for government workers to dedicate their valuable time to more pressing municipal tasks, and saving constituents the hassle of traveling to city hall in person.
Paul Carifi, Jr. Elected President of the Parsippany Council
PARSIPPANY — During the Reorganization meeting of Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council on Tuesday, January 2, Council member Paul Carifi, Jr., who has served for a long time on the council, was elected to the position of Council President by his fellow council members, 4-1. Musella was the only Councilman to vote against Carifi.
In addition, Frank Neglia was elected to serve as Vice President.
Both individuals will hold their respective positions for two years, after which new elections among the Council members will be conducted.
Additional members of the Council include Justin Musella and the newly elected members, Matthew McGrath and Judy Hernandez.
Musella Moves to Repeal PILOTS
PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Member Justin Musella proposed a motion to introduce Ordinance 2024:01. This ordinance aims to repeal Ordinances 2023:25, 2023:37, and 2023:38, all of which were approved during the previous council session on Thursday, December 28.
When council members convened in 2023 for their last meeting, it was to approve PILOT agreements in a lengthy 7-hour session marked by the presence of 900 upset residents.
Two Republican council members, Loretta Gragnani and Michael DePierro, have retired.
One of the new council members is Democrat Judy Hernandez, who becomes the only Dem on the council. She won by eight votes.
The other two winners last year were GOP incumbent Paul Carifi, Jr., and newcomer Matthew McGrath.
This triggered strong opposition from residents who denounced the deal as a favor to affluent developers. The final vote tally was 4-1, with Councilman Justin Musella casting the sole dissenting vote.
Musella read the following Ordinance into the record and made a motion to approve.
“An Ordinance of The Township Council of The Township Of Parsippany-Troy Hills, Morris County, New Jersey, Repealing Ordinances 2023:26 (Adopting The 7 Campus Drive Redevelopment Plan); 2023:37 (Authorizing the Execution of Financial Agreement With the Township and Sig Sylvan Club Urban Renewal, LLC, Granting a Tax Exemption with Respect To That Certain Property Identified as Block 202, Lot 1.9 In Accordance With The Long-Term Tax Exemption Law, N.J.S.A. 40a:20-1 Et Seq); 2023:38 (Authorizing the Execution of Financial Agreement With The Township And Kanso Parsippany Urban Renewal, LLC, Granting A Tax Exemption With Respect To That Certain Property Identified as Block 202, Lot 1.9 In Accordance With the Long Term Tax Exemption Law, N.J.S.A. 40a:20-1 Et Seq.); 2023:39 (Authorizing The Execution of Financial Agreement with The Township And Par Development Urban Renewal, LLC, Granting a Tax Exemption With Respect To That Certain Property Identified As Block 202, Lot 3.8 In Accordance With The Long-Term Tax Exemption Law, N.J.S.A. 40a:20-1 Et Seq.).”
New Councilwoman Judith Hernandez seconded the motion, but it was subsequently voted against by Council President Paul Carifi, Jr., and Council Vice President Frank Neglia. Councilman Matthew McGrath, who is new to the council, abstained from voting, resulting in a final vote tally of 2-2-1. Consequently, the motion did not pass.
New and Returning Faces Sworn In at 2024 Parsippany-Troy Hills Inauguration Ceremony
PARSIPPANY — The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills hosted the 2024 Inauguration Ceremony to formally administer the oath of office to the newly elected Council members, who emerged victorious in the November election. The three Council members taking their positions are a combination of fresh faces and a returning member. The newcomers include Judith Hernandez and Matthew McGrath, while Paul Carifi, Jr. returns to continue his service on the Council.
The Three Newly Elected Council Members Join Councilman Frank Neglia and Councilman Justin Musella, shifting the Council to Four Republicans and One Democrat. Re-organization Meeting is Scheduled for Tuesday, January 2 at 6:30 p.m. with the Election of Council President and Vice President on the Agenda.