PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Focus confirmed today with the Internal Revenue Service that the controversial Super PAC, America’s Future First (AFF), has still not filed any 2015 quarterly reports per federal law.  In what residents are colloquially calling “Parsippany PAC-Gate” or just “PAC-gate”,  this paper previously reported that virtually all donors to the Super PAC had contracts or ties to the Township of Parsippany Troy-Hills.

One of the smaller donors to the Super PAC was the law firm of Archer & Greiner of Haddonfield, NJ; a firm the Star Ledger reported as being one of the largest legal clients of New Jersey under Governor Christie.  When Parsippany Focus originally noted that Archer & Greiner was an AFF donor, there was no apparent connection between the law firm and the Township.

It has since been revealed that Archer & Greiner has been retained by computer forensic expert Matthew Ferrante and his firm Aurora Information and Security Risk, a company which has billed the Township nearly $1,000,000 for imaging the computer hard drive of former Parsippany Police Captain James Carifi.  Aurora has since negotiated their bill down to approximately $220,000.

Ferrante and his computer firm have been named as one of the defendants in a lawsuit Captain Carifi filed against the Township, Mayor James Barberio, and Township Attorney John Inglesino.

The Super PAC that Ferrante’s attorney donated money to is the same organization which supported Councilman Michael dePierro and his running mates this past spring.  The Super PAC spent nearly $200,000 in trying to oust Carifi’s brother, Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr.  in the June primary.  Paul Carifi, Jr. ultimately won the most votes in the hotly contested GOP primary.

PARSIPPANY — State and Federal filings from the Super PACs at the heart of the 2015 Parsippany GOP Primary are beginning to appear on NJ ELEC and IRS Websites, albeit very late.  NJ’s Future First (NJFF) and it’s parent PAC, America’s Future First (AFF) submitted their first filings just days before the June 2015 Primary.

While both Super PACs incorporated in July 2014, the Internal Revenue Service did not receive AFF‘s first filings until May 11, 2015, just days before the June 2 Parsippany Primary. Per law, reports are due to the IRS quarterly; April 15,  July 15, October 15, and January 31.

America’s Future First (AFF)

For the period July 1 through September 30, 2014 and due the following month, the IRS did not receive AFF‘s first filing until nearly 7 months after the due date.  For that reporting period, $61,254.45 was raised by the Super PAC from donations from three different sources.

Adams, Rehmann & Heggan Associates, Inc, an engineering firm, donated to AFF six times during the first reporting period for a total contribution of $21,000.   Adams, Rehmann & Heggan was recently awarded a no-bid professional services contract with the Township of Parsippany.  According to the Parsippany Finance department, on July 1, 2015 Adams was paid $18,797.50 for engineering work provided to the township.

Another firm with close ties to the township also donated to AFF during the first reporting period.  Fairview Insurance, the Township’s Insurance Broker of Record donated $35,254.45. Business & Government Insurance Agency, Inc of Woodbridge donated an additional $5,000 to the Super PAC.

For the reporting period October 1 through December 31, 2014 and due by January 31, 2015, AFF submitted its filing 4 months late and it was received by the IRS on May 11, 2015 as well.

During the second reporting period, AFF received $26,490.20 in donations from four different sources.  The law firm of Archer & Greiner of Haddonfield, NJ, a firm the Star Ledger reported as being one of the largest legal clients of New Jersey under Governor Christie, donated $1000 to AFF.  Adam’s Rehmann, & Heggan Associates donated an additional $12,950.00 which brought their total contribution for 2014 to $33,950.00.

Fairview Insurance donated an additional $540.20 during this reporting period, but the Director of Business Development for Fairview Insurance and liaison to the Township of Parsippany, Ryan Graham, son of the founder of the firm, donated $12,000.00 to the Super PAC during this reporting period.

It should be noted that the April 15 and July 15, 2015 contribution reports have still not been received by the IRS.  The IRS confirmed this with Parsippany Focus this afternoon.

In 2014, aside from retaining the law firm Duane Morris, America’s Future First donated all of its funds to New Jersey’s First.

New Jersey’s Future First (NJFF)

Unlike its parent Super PAC, New Jersey’s Future First has not filed any reports with the IRS. However, NJFF must file disclosure forms with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (NJELEC).  Since its inception, NJFF has been required to file 13 campaign disclosures with NJELEC.  Nearly all were filed late, some nearly 10 months late.

In total, NJFF has received $158,200.00 in donations; all from one source.  America’s Future First.  Since AFF reported donations of $87,744.65 for 2014 but has not yet filed any reports for 2015, at least $70,455.35 was raised during the first part of 2015.

It is very difficult to decipher NJFF’s ELEC filings as each report has critical errors.  For example, NJFF reports on all of its forms that no amount over $300 was ever received by the Super PAC, yet the exact opposite is true.  In fact, through June 23, 2015 AFF has contributed $156,200.00 to NJFF, $155,900.00 more than the $300.00 contribution limit.

Among the Super PAC’s biggest expenses was Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor James Barberio’s former political consultant, Alan Zakin. According to ELEC filings NJFF has paid Zakin $26,550 with what appears to be additional $3440 still due to him.

Another $76,500.00 was paid to Bluewater Operations out of Clifton, New Jersey.  Bluewater provided the campaign headquarters for the Super PAC, paid the Super PAC’s campaign workers and provided “street money” in Parsippany during this past Parsippany GOP primary.  Bluewater is no stranger to controversy.

Ryan Graham and Alan Zakin

As previously reported in Parsippany Focus, During an April 1, 2015 meeting with Morris County Republican Chairman John Sette, Freeholders John Krickus, Dave Scapicchio, and Denville Councilwoman Deborah Smith, Alan Zakin shared with the group that he was working with an organization spearheaded by Fairview Insurance Executive Ryan Graham that was going to spend money in the Parsippany Republican Primary to aid incumbent Councilman Mike dePierro and his team to help defeat incumbent Council President Paul Carifi, Jr. and his running mates.  Although Super PACS may support candidates, there can be no interaction between the Super PAC and an individual candidate.

Although Councilman dePierro has steadfastly denied any involvement with either NJFF or AFF and denied that he had ever visited the Super Pac’s headquarters in Lake Parsippany, two witnesses have told Parsippany Focus that they witnessed both Mr. dePierro and his running mate former Councilman Vincent Ferrara at the Super PAC’s office.

“These Parsippany Super PACS are becoming a political cancer which must be stopped from spreading.” Councilman Louis Valori told Parsippany Focus recently.  “These Super PACs are corrupting the foundation of honest government and it must stop now.”

Sources tell Parsippany Focus that the Election Law Enforcement Commission has opened an investigation into ELEC violations.

PARSIPPANY — Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany donated school supplies to the Parsippany Food Pantry, to be distributed to needy families in Parsippany.

Kiwanis Club Secretary (center) Karen Gajewski and Immediate Past President/Foundation President (right) Carol Tiesi presented the school supplies to Parsippany-Troy Hills Acting Director Human Services Michele Picone.

For more information on the Kiwanis Club, click here.

Looking for a bright little button to add smiles to your life? Then Callie is the puppy for you! Callie is about 10-11 weeks old and has a beautiful unique look. Her legs are brindle, her body is black, she has a long thin tail, she has the cuties long ears and she has whiskers!! Just cute as a button!

Callie a happy puppy because she is now living in a nice foster home in NJ after being rescued from a high kill shelter in North Carolina. Her foster family says “Callie is a playful and friendly puppy. She likes meeting people and she has a nice sweet personality. Callie spends her days exploring in the yard, playing with toys, going for walks and playing with our dog. Callie is good with our young daughter, she is playful yet calm. Callie is so sweet, we know when you meet her you will fall in love!”

If you are interested in adopting this puppy, please email FHDR@att.net for an adoption application.  To see more photos of Callie and/or to see our other adoptable pets, click here.

PARSIPPANY — The Deptartment of Public conducted the 9th Annual Rockaway River Clean-up on Saturday, August 8. Volunteers met at the Lake Hiawatha Swim Club at 8:00 a.m. The Township supplied gloves and cleaning materials to facilitate in the clean up.

The team cleaned up areas around the Rockaway River, along Lake Shore Drive, Knoll Road, Vail Road and Greenbank Road.

Over a dozen bags of trash were collected and other debris removed. This is the first time in several years that Rockaway River has been cleaned from the other side of the wall.

Clean Communities Coordinator Eddie Celardo and Department of Public Works Director Greg Schneider led the teams.