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Oct 15, 2022

SAX4Miler2022-322-2 — Robert B. Budelman, VP & Chief Development Officer St. Joseph's Health Foundation; Michael Lamacchia, MD, Chair of St. Joseph's Children's Hospital; Kevin J. Slavin, President and CEO, St. Joseph's Health; Stuart Berger, Sax LLP Partner and Chairman of the 4 MILER; Kelsey Gitchell, Supervisor, St. Joseph's Child Life Program. Photo credit: Chris Marksbury

PARSIPPANY — Sax LLP, a leading accounting, tax and advisory firm hosted their 11th annual 4 MILER at Garret Mountain Reservation to benefit The Child Life Department at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital’s in Paterson.

The annual family-friendly, run/walk event was coordinated and facilitated by Sax’s philanthropic arm, The Sax Charitable Foundation. The Foundation absorbs all costs associated with the event so that 100% of dollars raised directly supports The Child Life Department at St. Joseph’s.

The Child Life Department provides pediatric patients with quality-of-life programs that help decrease the stress and anxiety caused by their illness and hospitalization and enhances their overall optimal growth. These programs which include high-impact holistic therapies such as art, animal-assisted, music and horticultural therapy, are entirely 100% donor-funded.

This year, the event raised $110,000., bringing the total to over $795,000 the 4 MILER has donated to the Child Life Department, since its inception in 2012. Through the support of event sponsors, donors and participants, the 4 MILER has proudly become the Child Life Department’s largest financial contributor, and the largest Fall philanthropic event in the tri-state area.

Letter to the Editor: Taxpayers Deserve Project Labor Agreements

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Oct 15, 2022

Dear Editor:

The Township of Parsippany is actively taking steps to ensure that construction projects in the community are supporting local workers and providing the best return on investment for taxpayers. They are doing this using Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). PLAs are transparent, agreed upon contracts that provide stability and structure on large scale construction projects. A PLA is an agreement between the owner of a project and the contractor that lays out both parties’ responsibilities on a particular construction project to ensure that the project runs smoothly and ultimately does not cost taxpayers additional dollars.

Planning is usually the best way to tackle any problem, and the Project Labor Agreement is the construction industries’ best tool to plan ahead. This agreement can establish terms of employment for workers, specifically wages and any fringe benefits. This is why unscrupulous contractors avoid them, allowing them to exploit and mistreat workers without clear terms and agreements. Unions, on the other hand, seek out PLAs because they create a stable foundation for a healthy relationship between labor and management, while protecting workers and the taxpayer.

Project Labor Agreements and unions are two of the best tools to protect workers from exploitation. A recent report by the University of California Berkeley Labor Center (Click here) concluded that nonunion construction workers should expect to continue to be exploited and cheated, and lawful contractors should expect to find it more and more difficult to remain in operation.

According to the Berkeley report, nearly four out of 10 construction worker families nationwide are so poorly compensated that they are forced to enroll in one or more safety net programs, such as Medicaid or the supplemental nutrition assistance program, also known as SNAP – a higher rate than that seen in the general population. Compare this with their union counterparts, who end up making on average higher wages and have better benefits, including healthcare and a pension.

Project Labor Agreements help prevent workers from being paid poverty wages. Poor wages end up costing the taxpayer millions of dollars. For example, in New Jersey, 33% of families of construction workers are enrolled in one or more safety net programs, and these benefits end up costing the state and the federal government $325 million per year. Without PLAs, the taxpayer could ultimately foot the bill for unlawful contractors’ profits.

Through transparent and upfront terms, Project Labor Agreements prevent workers from being misclassified by their employers. It is estimated that more than 2 million construction workers in the U.S. work full-time but are misclassified as “independent contractors,” which allows their employers to pay them in cash, without declaring the expense to the government. This is illegal and enables the employer to avoid paying taxes or benefits.

Created in the 1930s, Project Labor Agreements are used widely, and not just because they protect workers. The private sector has utilized them with great success. Examples include Disney World, the Kennedy Space Center and Yankee Stadium.

The Township of Parsippany, its workers, and its taxpayers deserve Project Labor Agreements to protect workers and taxpayers from exploitative wages and costly jobs.

William C. Sproule
Executive Secretary-Treasurer
Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters

Parsippany Focus Denied OPRA Request for Motor Vehicle Thefts or Vehicle Break Ins

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Oct 15, 2022

PARSIPPANY — According to State Police data, 14,320 cars were reported stolen in 2021 in New Jersey. That is a 22% rise in car thefts from 2020. By August 2022, 9,000 cars were stolen. That is expected to rise to 17,000 by the end of the year.

Many residents have reached out to Parsippany Focus inquiring why our staff hasn’t reported any such incidents happening in Parsippany.

Parsippany Focus filed an OPRA (Open Public Records Act) request with the Parsippany Police Department and was denied our request.

“Regarding your OPRA for motor vehicle thefts or vehicle break ins: Any and all arrests for the above mention crimes highlighted: No responsive records. Any and all reports (which I believe by this to mean incident/investigative reports) for the above mention crimes highlighted: Your request for these has been denied. Under OPRA these records fall into the exemption criminal investigatory file. Applicable case law also states this exemption applies to incidents after they have been investigated and/or closed out,” said Sergeant Brian Conover #443, Public Information Officer, Support Services Division.

“Motor vehicle theft is a growing public safety issue. Not only are members of our community having cars stolen, but their sense of safety and security is being stolen, as well,” said Rep. Sherrill. “In response to alarming trends across the state and many conversations with concerned residents, police chiefs, prosecutors, and mayors in NJ-11, I introduced commonsense legislation to give our law enforcement the tools needed to curb these auto thefts and make our neighborhoods safer. As a former federal prosecutor, I am committed to making sure our local police departments have the resources needed to strengthen community safety and build trust in our towns and cities.”

Rep. Sherrill Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Auto Thefts in NJ-11

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Oct 15, 2022

PARSIPPANY — Representatives Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and Don Bacon (NE-2) introduced the Auto Theft Prevention Act. This bipartisan legislation will provide state and local law enforcement agencies with federal grant funding to help them combat auto thefts and stolen vehicle trafficking. According to State Police data, 14,320 cars were reported stolen in 2021 in New Jersey. That is a 22% rise in car thefts from 2020. By August 2022, 9,000 cars were stolen. That is expected to rise to 17,000 by the end of the year.

“Motor vehicle theft is a growing public safety issue. Not only are members of our community having cars stolen, but their sense of safety and security is being stolen, as well,” said Rep. Sherrill. “In response to alarming trends across the state and many conversations with concerned residents, police chiefs, prosecutors, and mayors in NJ-11, I introduced commonsense legislation to give our law enforcement the tools needed to curb these auto thefts and make our neighborhoods safer. As a former federal prosecutor, I am committed to making sure our local police departments have the resources needed to strengthen community safety and build trust in our towns and cities.”

“Local law enforcement, including those in our district, need the technology and top-notch equipment to track and catch car thieves quickly and efficiently,” said Rep. Bacon. “I’m glad to lead this legislation with Rep. Sherrill and believe this grant program will not only combat the rise in auto thefts but will help deter future crimes and show criminals they won’t be able to get away with robbing the community.”

This legislation will create a new competitive grant program within the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to fund state and local law enforcement efforts to combat auto thefts. In addition, the legislation creates a new eligible use of funds within the existing COPS grant program that allows police departments to use funds on new equipment, hiring, and compensation to help combat auto thefts. It is designed to direct funding to areas of the country that are most impacted by a rise in auto thefts.

Grants can be used by police departments to purchase equipment used to combat auto theft, such as law enforcement vehicles and license plate readers, hire additional law enforcement officers and support staff, fund overtime costs and additional compensation for law enforcement officers and support staff, provide resources for joint task forces, and fund law enforcement data collection and research activities related to combating auto theft.

The legislation has been endorsed by the National Troopers Coalition, International Union of Police Associations, New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association, and New Jersey Association of Counties. Original cosponsors of the bill include Reps. Salud Carbajal, Angie Craig, Josh Gottheimer, Andy Kim, and David Trone.

New Jersey’s Attorney General has published information on best practices to keep your vehicle safe, which can be found here. Important tips to prevent vehicle theft include:

Never leaving your keys or key fob in your vehicle
Not leaving your vehicle running while unattended
Parking your car in well-lit areas
Ensuring all windows are closed
Hiding your valuables
Making sure all doors are locked

Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 18

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Oct 15, 2022

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 18.

Regular Township Council Meetings will commence at 7:00 p.m. All meetings will be held on Tuesday evenings. This meeting will be held at Parsippany Hills High School, 20 Rita Drive, Parsippany. Formal action may or may not be taken at all scheduled meetings.

Click here to download the agenda.

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 a meeting. Auxiliary aids must be requested at least 72 hours prior to the meeting date. Please call (973) 263-4351 to make a request for an auxiliary aid.

Click here to download the 2022 agenda schedule.

Mayor and Council

Mayor James R Barberio
Council President Michael J. dePierro
Council Vice-President Loretta Gragnani
Councilman Paul Carifi Jr.
Councilman Frank Neglia
Councilman Justin Musella

Letter to the Editor: Pipefitters Local 274 Changed my Life

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Oct 15, 2022

Dear Editor:

I grew up in Lake Hiawatha, went to Parsippany High School. My family was working class; my mother was the only parent in the house after middle school and she was constantly working to provide for my sister, brother and I. That being said the cost of college always haunted me and when it came time to choose, with the help of my guidance counselor, Mrs. Bush, I decided to apply for an apprenticeship at Pipefitters local 274, and it changed my life. It has given me a decent pay, health insurance, training and a resource for protection. I know for a fact these are rare things in the private sector of trades work because my brother worked with a plumbing company based in Fairfield for five years with no health insurance, stuck making the hourly rate of a first year Pipefitter apprentice. On top of that working in terrible safety conditions. He only recently joined the local after enough was enough.

I had no intention of speaking but when I heard the woman from the ABC make claims that the union was “exploiting minority workers” I became very angry. It felt like a clear projection coming from the people that exploit minority and immigrant workers the most, paying them scraps and skipping out on safety standards.

I felt that no one who spoke against the PLA had ever been on a job site because there is a clear distinction of union sites safety practices and a non-union. We aren’t numbers on a paper; this is our livelihood, and we should be able to make a decent living and make it home safe every night.

I think I’m a good example of how more quality apprenticeship opportunities through unions can help Parsippany overall. I’m able to contribute back to the town more now than I ever would if I did not have this opportunity.

Parsippany resident
Sean Gentile

Letter to the Editor: Our Town is Not for Sale

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Oct 15, 2022

Dear Editor:

The circus was in town on Tuesday. There were strongmen, clowns, elephants and RINOs with the taxpayers facing a financial tight rope due to an unholy alliance between the Mayor and his Big Union Supporters.

The strongmen were made up of mobs of out-of-town Union workers filling town hall making it almost impossible for actual residents to enter to voice their concerns. The Town Hall was so full of non-resident union workers, the masses had to be asked to move to the halls to prevent a fire hazard. At least five residents who wished to speak against the PLA could not do so as they were afraid to leave their cars and push through the sign wielding mob. Others were turned away at the door due to occupancy restrictions.

Those residents early enough and brave enough to speak, faced jeers and hisses from the self-serving peanut gallery. Of course, you don’t have to take my word for it, you can watch the videos yourself (Link). The Mayor, who was squarely on the side of the union, bellowed “the PLA would go through” resulting in cheers from the union members seeking to make a quick buck from the town.

To be clear, the PLA (Project Labor Agreement) (click here) would ensure Big Unions get town projects over $5 million dollars. It removes competitive bidding and has no benefit for the taxpayers or residents. So why would a supposed fiscal conservative Republican support this Biden initiative (Click here)

MONEY

Construction Unions have contributed thousands of dollars to Mayor Barberio’s election campaign and thousands more to his re-election campaign. This is astounding for a local election.

Is this quid pro quo?

Mayor Barberio vehemently denied the supposition and even seemed offended by the idea, however, quid pro quo is defined as “a favor or advantage granted or expected in return for something.”

The Mayor’s response was that he cannot control who donates. But the Mayor CAN control what ordinances are proposed. There is a clear conflict of interest when a pro union ordinance, which does not benefit the town, is proposed the same year the Mayor is elected on the backs of union dollars.

More concerning was the throngs of non-resident unions supporters who showed up for this dog and pony show. One must wonder how far in advance this was planned and who Mayor Barberio really works for.

I urge you to contact the mayor’s office (Click here) and your council members (Click here) and make it clear that Parsippany residents should be the Mayor’s first priority. If you can be there in person, please do. The PLA ordinance is terrible for our town. It must not go through.

There will be another meeting on Tuesday, October 18th at Parsippany Hills High School to accommodate the over 500 union workers scheduled to show. Come and tell the Mayor our town is not for sale.

Name Withheld
Parsippany Resident

Editors Note: It was requested by the author of this letter to keep the name confidential. Parsippany Focus verified the author, as a standard policy. The request was honored because of the fear of retaliation.

Letter to the Editor: Barberio’s Pay for PLA

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Oct 15, 2022

Dear Editor:

On Tuesday, October 18 the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council will vote on mandating Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) for town construction projects.

State prevailing wage laws, which mandate that the contractors on all significant municipal construction projects pay prevailing wages, interpreted to mean union wages, already make all government construction jobs more costly than similar jobs in the private sector. Now our Council is looking to go beyond that and require workers actually belong to a union.

That violates the freedom of contractors and workers. On an ad hoc basis, the bid specs for a particular project could still provide for a PLA if special circumstances justify it, but a blanket requirement is uncalled for and will reduce competitive bidding and drive up costs.

If you want to learn more about the issue click here.

I urge all taxpayers to contact our Council members and urge them to vote NO on PLAs.

Kenneth Kaplan
Parsippany

Parsippany District 5 Fire Department Open House

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Oct 15, 2022

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany District 5 Fire Department will host an Open House on Saturday, October 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Open House! A few reminders about what will be available to everyone.

-Trucks to view and climb on
-Equipment to look at and use
-Fire gear to try on
-Fire hose to use
-Thermal Imaging Camera to see what they see
-Bounce House
-Fire Extinguisher prop to practice how to properly and safely use a Fire Extinguisher
-Fire safety information
-Fire safety giveaways

The Open House is at 200 South Beverwyck Road.

Parking is available at the Chinese Christian Church located at 232 South Beverwyck Road which is right next to our Firehouse.

There is also a gate in between the properties that will be open for everyone to come through to keep as much foot traffic off of South Beverwyck Road as possible.

Again, please share the event so no one misses out. The weather is promising to be perfect for tomorrow.

Come see what your tax dollars provide us with in order to best serve you!

Musella Named 13 in Top 100 Millennials

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Oct 15, 2022

PARSIPPANY – Parsippany-Troy Hills Councilman Justin Musella was named #13 in “Insider NJ’s 2022 Insider 100: Millennials Publication.”

Musella, elected to Parsippany-Troy Hills Council last November was the highest vote getter of the Council candidates. Prior to his Council win, Musella was Chairman of Morris County Young Republicans.

According to NJ Insider “The Parsippany Republican is an avid campaigner, and his skills and dedication delivered him a Republican primary victory for council last year and subsequent general election victory in a Morris County town that had been trending Democratic in recent years. His work and campaign ethic has caught the attention of NJGOP bigwigs, who continue to headline fundraisers for Musella.”

Growing up in Franklin Lakes, Justin has been active in local politics since a young age having volunteered on campaigns before he could vote. Politics is one of Justin’s core passions and as a loyal Republican he believes it is his duty and responsibility to be active in making meaningful contributions to the party at a local level. Growing the club to be the largest YR organization in the state is his core focus for the upcoming year. In his professional life, he is a Senior Account ExecutiveSenior Account Executive for Biz2X.

Click here to download the Millennial Publication 2022.

Family Promise to Host the Steve Hammond Homebound Hustle 5K & 1 Mile Walk

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Oct 15, 2022

PARSIPPANY — On Saturday, November 5, Family Promise of Morris County is hosting its second annual Homebound Hustle 5K & 1 Mile Walk.

All proceeds raised through the Homebound Hustle will benefit programs and services that support families and individuals experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity in Morris County.

This year’s event has been named in honor of the late Stephen W. Hammond, a long-time advocate of helping people in need within the Morris County community.

Steve Hammond was Morris County’s longtime Director of Public Works and County Engineer and later served on the Board of Family Promise of Morris County, including as its president.

His service with Morris County began in 1970 as Assistant Engineer and ended with his retirement in 2013. During his tenure, he oversaw many key projects for the county, including the development of the former Greystone State Park Psychiatric Hospital in Parsippany-Troy Hills into todays’ Central Park of Morris County.

Steve was a champion for the constituents he served, both through his work with the county and his community. Before joining the Family Promise Board of Trustees in 2015, he was instrumental in helping the agency secure its current Day Center in Central Park, enabling Family Promise to serve even more families experiencing homelessness.

He was chosen as President of the Family Promise Board of Trustees in 2017, embracing the role wholeheartedly as he worked tirelessly to better understand the agency and community’s needs, setting a precedent for volunteer involvement.

The Steve Hammond Homebound Hustle 5K & 1 Mile Walk honors his legacy and serves as a reminder of his leadership and positive impact within our community. On Nov. 5, residents can join Family Promise in raising awareness and raising funds for Morris County’s most vulnerable community members while also remembering Steve Hammond.

5K and 1 Mile Walk details:

Participants can choose between running or walking Central Park of Morris County’s scenic cross-country trail or joining the race virtually.

Check in and on-site registration will take place from 9:00 am to 9:45 a.m. The 5K Run will begin at 10:00 a.m. and the 1 Mile Walk will begin at 10:15 a.m.; an awards ceremony with light refreshments will follow.

There is a $35.00 registration fee for both events. The agency is offering an early-bird rate of $30 until September 30.

To register or get more details click here.

Those who are unable to attend are encouraged to show their support by donating to Family Promise by clicking here.

Family Promise’s Navigating Hope mobile outreach unit also will be on site on November 5, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. In partnership with Morris County, Navigating Hope provides essential services, such as housing support and benefits screenings, in hard-to-reach places across all 39 Morris County municipalities.

Family Promise of Morris County is a non-sectarian, not-for-profit organization dedicated to ending the crisis of homelessness and housing insecurity faced by Morris County families and individuals by partnering with other public and private agencies, religious congregations, and community volunteers to provide shelter, affordable housing, case management, and mentoring services leading to independence. Areas of service include Shelter, Rapid Rehousing and Diversion, Housing, and Outreach through programs such as Our Promise Drop-In Resource Center, Promising Solutions Women’s Housing Campus, and the Navigating Hope Mobile Outreach Unit. For more information, visit www.familypromisemorris.org or follow @familypromisemorris on social media.

Letter to the Editor: The Case Against Project Labor Agreements in Parsippany

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Oct 15, 2022

Dear Editor:

On October 10, the Daily Record printed a timely article entitled “Should NJ Towns steer public projects to union labor? Parsippany latest to take up debate”. The subject of the article was project labor agreements (PLAs) and Parsippany’s proposed ordinance 2022:24, which would mandate PLAs on all public construction projects over $5 million. Besides explaining what PLAs are, the columnist also included an unbiased summary of the arguments for and against these agreements. After analyzing the pros and cons, my conclusion is that the benefits of PLAs are overwhelmed by the extra costs that Parsippany taxpayers would incur by passage of this ordinance.

Regarding PLAs, the assumption is that the skill level of the unionized PLA workers is greater than non-PLA workers. However, I found no available evidence showing that PLA construction projects are any better or safer than non-PLA projects. What is not in dispute is that PLA projects are more expensive and tend to have a longer duration than non-PLA projects. An October 2010 report by the NJ Department of Labor and Workflow Development examining 2008 school construction projects, found that PLA project costs were 30% higher than non-PLA projects, and that the average duration of PLA projects was 100 weeks compared to 78 weeks for non-PLA projects. Statistics cited in the Daily Record newspaper article were in line with these findings. The article reported the results of a 2019 analysis by the Beacon Hill Institute, which also concluded that PLAs resulted in “significantly higher” costs for construction in five states, including New Jersey.

To highlight the effect on Parsippany’s taxpayers if this ordinance were passed, consider the following example. If a $5 million project was initiated with the ordinance in effect, the total cost would increase by $1.5 million due to the 30% PLA premium. Parsippany just cannot afford to be adding that kind of money to its already troubled budget. How many employees would have to be terminated to offset an extra $1.5 million?

Passage of Ordinance 2022:24 is not in the best interests of the taxpayers of Parsippany. The township has been functioning well for almost 100 years, and during that time projects large and small have been constructed without an ordinance mandating PLAs. We don’t need one now, and I hope the council will come to that same conclusion when they vote on it next week.

Bob Venezia
Parsippany

Another Parsippany Office Building Demolished

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Oct 15, 2022

PARSIPPANY — The owner of 169 Johnson Road demolished the 33,736 square foot office building and will be replacing the structure with an 87-unit-three-story over a one-story parking garage. The two-story office building was known as Brevent Plaza. The application was approved by Parsippany-Troy Hills Planning Board on December 21, 2020.

The project was also approved in the Parsippany-Troy Hills Fair Share Housing Center.

The Office Building was recently demolished

Four story building was approved for 169 Johnson Road. It will contain 69 market priced units and 18 affordable housing units

The 33,736 SF office building has a full-height landscaped atrium. The building featured a reception/security desk in lobby, an open foyer and skylights.

Outline of the property of 169 Johnson Road

Letter to the Editor: Project Labor Agreement’s Crush Small Businesses and Taxpayers

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Oct 15, 2022

Dear Editor:

Municipalities across New Jersey should remain suspicious about the spread of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) at the municipal level. As previously covered by Gannett, in my town Parsippany–an ordinance is up for debate on trying to steer all major taxpayer-funded development projects directly to union labor through law. The proposed ordinance will dictate PLAs on all municipal construction projects over $5M, which if passed, will significantly contribute to our already unsustainable tax burden. Parsippany residents deserve better than the implementation of bad economic policy and should expect better than to have taxpayer money wasted in this way. More importantly, the public should know exactly why New Jersey suffers from some of the highest infrastructure costs in the nation and how PLAs worsen this very serious problem.

PLAs establish a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement between unions and a municipality that legislates how labor will be provided for a project, at what cost, and under which conditions. To participate in a PLA project, non-unionized companies must agree to use union-supplied employees and not their own, with few exceptions.

The result of this anti-competitive measure can be seen in your quarterly property tax bill. Taxpayers will bear the burden of increased project costs by artificially reducing the number of available firms who can bid under these limiting circumstances. New Jersey Department of Labor studies show enforcement of PLAs drove up the costs on public school construction by 33% and delayed project timeline dates by six to eight weeks.

For example, Toms River has made available the results of PLA bids versus non-PLA bids, and the results are always the same, PLA bids came in substantially higher.

PLAs also discriminate against small businesses that would otherwise bid on municipal work. The vast majority of construction workers in this state, 73%, and some of whom live in my town Parsippany, have opted to not have union representation—which is their right under federal labor law. An ordinance requiring their employers to have a unionized workforce in order to bid on the township’s construction projects is a direct infringement of that right and is at its core, a fundamental violation of their civil right to make a living.

That is not to say there isn’t a place for these agreements. Consideration of a PLA on a case-by-case basis can make sense as every project has different requirements. For example, some projects can be more complex than others. For Parsippany to say at the outset that all municipal projects necessitate a PLA is shortsighted, and bad governance, since it’s clear these agreements will only increase the tax burden to our already struggling residents without providing any real tangible benefit.

I’ve heard the arguments regarding why we should have a PLA. I understand that we want quality construction, but there is no evidence or research indicating only union shops can produce a quality project. Further, the quality of the project itself tends to suffer by having an employer replace his or her entire workforce with union employees they have no relationship with. Could you imagine how productive you would be on a project if you ran a company and had your workforce replaced with people you lacked an established working dynamic?

As it stands, a thorough and competitive bidding process at the lowest responsible cost is what is best for the taxpayer. We should reject costly measures like PLAs which ultimately reduce competition, harm small businesses, and provide no real benefit to the end user–you.

Justin Musella
Councilman Parsippany-Troy Hills

Letter to the Editor: Protect Parsippany Taxpayers

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Oct 15, 2022

An Open Letter to the Parsippany-Troy Hills Mayor and Council members:

My name is Samantha DeAlmeida and I am the President and CEO of the N.J. Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors (“ABC”). ABC is a national association representing 21,000 merit shop construction and construction-related firms in 69 Chapters across the United States. With over 1,200 ABC members in N.J., Merit Shop contractors in N.J. employ in excess of over 400,000 workers and are responsible for over $19 billion in New Jersey construction annually.

I am writing today to voice my organization’s strong opposition to the ordinance introduced this week mandating the use of project labor agreements (“PLA’s”) on all construction
projects over $5M in Parsippany. As you know, a PLA is a form of labor contract that requires all contractors participating on a project to employ only union-represented labor, despite the fact that 73% of the construction industry workforce in N.J. have never opted for union representation. Thus, the immediate impact of mandating the use of PLA’s on all projects over $5M is that the pool of contractors available to work on any such project is vastly smaller than if a project were done so-called open shop – that is, regardless of a contractor’s affiliation with a union.

Fewer options for Parsippany taxpayers in the choice of contractors is likely one of the
reasons that the N.J. Department of Labor in its most recent study found that the use of PLA’s on construction projects increased the cost of construction by a staggering 33%, and led to significant delays in the completion of projects. There is no contrary evidence we have seen to suggest that the results would be any different for your taxpayers, thus making the proposed ordinance a very bad value proposition for
Parsippany residents.

I invite you to educate yourselves about the realities of PLAs and welcome your questions. While you owe it to your residents to have quality contractors work on publicly-funded construction projects, enacting a mandatory PLA ordinance is not the answer. If enacted, the Ordinance will hurt merit shop contractors and their employees who live in Parsippany, raise their families, pay taxes, invest in the community, and possibly vote for you. In addition, all Parsippany taxpayers will pay the price through increased costs that have been well-documented, and which could ultimately drive taxes up.

I and ABC’s members look forward to being an active part of the process as this ordinance is considered in upcoming meetings.

Sincerely,
Samantha DeAlmeida

Concerned Taxpayers: Please attend Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Meeting, October 18, 7 p.m. Parsippany Hills High School, 20 Rita Drive, to make your voice heard!

11th Congressional District Forum

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Oct 15, 2022

MORRIS COUNTY — The three candidates running to represent the 11th Congressional District will meet in a Tuesday, October 25 candidate forum moderated by the League of Women Voters of New Jersey at Drew University in Madison.

The forum will feature Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11, and Republican challenger Paul DeGroot. Sherrill, who lives in Montclair, is seeking her third term. DeGroot, a Montville resident and former Passaic County Assistant Prosecutor, is seeking elected office for the first time. A third candidate on the ballot, Libertarian Joseph Biasco of Lincoln Park, a retired Cliffside Park police captain, is not participating.

The event, which will also be live-streamed on YouTube, will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Drew University Concert Hall, 36 Madison Avenue, Madison. Click here to watch the live-streamed forum.

The community is invited to submit questions in advance by 6:00 p.m. Friday, October 21. Click here to submit questions. Your name and contact info is required but will not be disclosed.

Sherrill’s campaign office recently released the schedule DeGroot spokesperson Chad Niblett confirmed his candidate would participate as well.

The schedule is as follows:

Sunday, October 23: New Jersey Globe Debate
Tuesday, October 25: League of Women Voters Debate
Wednesday, October 26: Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ Candidate Forum

The in-person early voting period starts from October 29 to November 6. Voters can register until the deadline on October 18.

After the redistricting based on the 2020 Census, 11th district now covers these communities:

Morris County – Boonton, Boonton Township, Butler, Chatham, Chatham Township, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Madison, Mendham Township (partial), Montville, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Morristown, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany, Pequannock, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway, Rockaway Township, Victory Gardens.
Essex County – Belleville, Bloomfield, Cedar Grove, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Montclair (partial), North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, South Orange, West Caldwell.
Passaic County – Little Falls, Totowa, Wayne (partial), Woodland Park.

Letter to the Editor: Support of Cogan, Shappell and Von Achen

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Oct 14, 2022

Dear Editor:

As we are all aware, the November 8 elections have the potential to bring unprecedented changes to our great nation. And as much as the congressional midterms are important, we must remember that change also begins on the local level. This year, the Parsippany – Troy Hills Board of Education election is at its’ proverbial “fork in the road.”

This letter is in support of Alison Cogan, Michelle Shappell and Kendra Von Achen. Alison and Kendra are current board members and Michelle would be a new but welcomed member. What is at stake is so important it could potentially alter the direction of the entire school district.

Parsippany has an amazing school system. Yes, it is large, but it has been well managed by the current administration and our current Board of Education. As the political and cultural landscape of our country is shifting, the tremors are beginning to create fissures that are exposing a quiet but quickly moving wave of anti-progressive thinking. It is bubbling to surface in the form of candidates and existing board members, who are suggesting banning books, limiting curriculum, taking away from professional teachers the ability to choose and monitor curriculum while ignoring the current diversity and needs of our community’s youth.

Candidates Choffo, Ferise and Raia are backed by “Mom’s for Liberty,” a newly formed radical group whose purpose is to upend school boards. They say out loud they are against “progressivism in schools.” Let’s define that word. Progressivism means: Support or advocacy for social reform, to advance the human condition with science, technology, and economic and social organization. It’s for the good of ALL. If you oppose it, the opposite is Regressive, which means to get less developed and return to an older state. In the recent debate, one of these candidates stated they were against progressive authors, who not only bring diversity to our schools, but an understanding of it. You can’t be for AND against diversity and inclusion at the same time.

If you vote for Choffo, Raia and Farise, you are choosing to take the district backward, not forward. Please vote for ALISON COGAN, MICHELLE SHAPPELL AND KENDRA VON ACHEN, rows 4 – 5 – 6 on your November 8th ballot. Let’s not go backward, let’s make a commitment to our students to move forward.

Laura McCluskey
Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey
Retired teacher from the Parsippany – Troy Hills School District

Video: Parsippany-Troy Hills Town Council Meeting – October 11, 2022

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Oct 12, 2022

PARSIPPANY — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Agenda Meeting for Tuesday, October 4, 2022 was rescheduled to Tuesday, October 11, at 7:00 p.m., in the Municipal Building located at 1001 Parsippany Boulevard, Parsippany. Formal action may or may not be taken.

Regular Township Council Meetings commence at 7:00 p.m. All meetings will be held on Tuesday evenings. All meetings will be held in the Municipal Building, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard, Parsippany. Formal action may or may not be taken at all scheduled meetings.

Click here to download the agenda.

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 a meeting. Auxiliary aids must be requested at least 72 hours prior to the meeting date. Please call (973) 263-4351 to make a request for an auxiliary aid.

Click here to download the 2022 agenda schedule.

Mayor and Council

Mayor James R Barberio
Council President Michael J. dePierro
Council Vice-President Loretta Gragnani
Councilman Paul Carifi Jr.
Councilman Frank Neglia
Councilman Justin Musella

File Your Senior Freeze Property Tax Relief Application by October 31

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Oct 7, 2022