PARSIPPANY — The Parsippany-Troy Hills Township approved a resolution hiring Leonard Ho as Parsippany’s newest Chief Financial Officer.
Leonard Ho was hired as Assistant Chief Financial Officer under the former CFO, Juan Uribe.
Uribe retired on September 30, 2022.
Ho has a long professional history in government. He was Certified Municipal Finance Officer and Certified Tax Collector in both the Township of Tewksbury from 2019 until he took the position in Parsippany. He also served as Certified Municipal Finance Officer, Certified Tax Collector and Qualified Purchasing Agent in the Township of Long Hill from 2014 to 2018. He was also Assistant Treasurer in the Township of Harding from 2009 to 2014.
He holds a B.A. in Economics from the City University of New York – Queens College, graduating in 2002.
He served as an Enlisted Soldier in the United States Army from 1995 to 1998.
Leonard is a State of New Jersey Certified Tax Collector, State of New Jersey Certified Municipal Finance Officer with strong analytical, accounting and process implementation skills; He is very familiar with municipal finance, tax collection and other related statutory requirements.
Ho said “Thank you Mayor and Council members, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Parsippany.”
Council Chambers was packed with Union Workers who support the PLA Ordinance
PARSIPPANY — The controversy over project labor agreements overflowed the Parsippany-Troy Hills Council Chambers on Tuesday, October 11.
One Parsippany resident summed it up: “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 council chambers reached occupancy and the crowd filled the hallways at Parsippany’s Municipal Building and angry residents had to wait outside because of overcrowding at the meeting.
The ordinance, 2022:24, Entitled Project Labor Agreement, was on the agenda for public discussion, and second reading and final vote will take place on Tuesday, October 18.
It is believed there will be a crowd of over 500 union members in support of this ordinance that Parsippany-Troy’s Hills Council already moved the meeting to Parsippany Hills High School, 20 Rita Drive.
Parsippany resident Nicholas Kumburis said “My concern is that it will reduce competitive pricing and thereby increasing the taxes in Parsippany. “We’ve been impacted with an increase. Our municipal budget last year went from 50 million to 58 million, increased over 14%.”
“One of my biggest concerns as I took a look at the contribution statements for Mr. Barberio (ELEC reports) from last year, total contributions for his election campaign in 2021 was $55,000. $10,000 came from ‘Operating Engineers Local 825.’ UA Plumbers Local Union 24 donated $1,000. United Building and Trade companies $6,000. He’s already started collecting for his re-election campaign in 2025. We have Local 102 PAC donating $1,500. The BAC Administrative District Council of New Jersey another $1,000, The Pipefitters Local 274, donated $500, continued Kumburis.”
Kenneth Dukes, a Parsippany resident, stated “I am going on 16 years resident. I am in the carpenter union going on almost 30 years. And I can say that PLAs do work. I am a direct example. For a lot of the PLA jobs in Parsippany, I benefited directly through my association with the unions. Firsts they provide a safe, professional work environment for us as tradesmen. They give us a decent standard of living through the pay package, and the benefits package. Through PLAs and the opportunities that came along with them, I’ve been able to take care of my family, educate my children, purchase a home here in Parsippany.”
Parsippany-Troy Hills Councilman Justin Musella listens to the speakers at the Council Meeting of October 11
“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 that ultimately reduce competition, harm small businesses, and provide no real benefit to the end user — you,” stated Parsippany Councilman Justin Musella.
“We owe that to the residents, to make sure we have trained professionals do the job,” Parsippany Councilman Paul Carifi Jr. said. “I don’t want somebody that’s hired off the street, not fully trained, to build something. And they would be documented workers. They pay taxes. They are not people here illegally that are hired by people and then paid through them.”
Morris County Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo, who is running for re-election, sat in the front row of the meeting. He spoke out to state that the County already adopted a PLA resolution this past year and that he believes in PLAs, there is a difference between a resolution and an ordinance. A resolution is ceremonial and non-binding. An ordinance is binding. What is being proposed in Parsippany is an ordinance.
To further clarify the County’s resolution: The Morris County resolution states that projects can be decided on a case-by-case basis. To date, no Morris County projects have incorporated a PLA.
Parsippany resident Sean Gentile addressing the Mayor and Council
Parsippany resident Sean Gentile stated “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 Union 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.”
Gentile continued “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,” he continued.
“As property owners and taxpayers here in Parsippany, the Education Fund of Pipefitters Local 274 has always and will continue to participate in the community. The apprenticeship program and Training Center we operate on Jefferson Road, brings revenue to local business and creates lasting career opportunities for Parsippany residents. This PLA helps us to continue to do just that,” stated Donald P. Byrne, Education Coordinator/Director, Pipefitters Local 274.
Samantha DeAlmeida, President and CEO, Associated Builders and Contractors
Samantha DeAlmeida, President and CEO, Associated Builders and Contractors, New Jersey Chapter, “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.”
“It should be based on the best bid of similar skilled firms. The Council and Mayor are supposed to be fiduciaries of the taxpayer’s money and should be obligated to what is best for the taxpayers of the town. At the same time, any labor unions that contribute to any campaigns of both the Council and the Mayor should be required to return that money if the firm is bidding on any project. This would eliminate the perception of any conflict of interest,” said Parsippany resident Rob Maroldi.
Justin Musella, the only Councilman who voted against the ordinance during first reading, said Toms River posts bid results, “and the results are always the same: PLAs drive up project labor costs far beyond what the free market produces in a non-PLA bid.” The Toms River ordinance also requires 88% of hired workers to be “local.”
“Mandating PLAs on all construction projects over $5 million sentences our taxpayers to overpaying for services that could be obtained more competitively, at a time when we’re all faced with higher energy costs, bigger grocery store bills and an overall turbulent economy,” Musella said.
Michael Pulsinelli, IBEW Local 102, said “I represent 32 union electricians. I’m going to talk about PLAs. Without a PLA there’s no guarantee that the residents are participating on the project. So, there’s no Parsippany residents going to be participating on a project where they have 25% of local residents participate on a PLA job. This keeps the tax dollars in Parsippany. These benefits are often not realized by the non-union construction worker. I have the data to prove it because I’m appointed by the Building Trade State President and the Governor of New Jersey. I sit on the task force for the labor board, taxation and insurance fraud. I’m going to give you a total to date. From January 22 to July 22, prevailing public construction work sites inspected 439; Completed time and payroll inspections 523; Number of workers due back wages 958; Amount of back wages due, $3,237,799. So, 3.2 million they are robbing the workers, not paying prevailing rate, put in their pockets. And, and this is what we’re competing. If its apples the apples, we’ll blow anybody out of the water. We are the best, the most trained and the most dedicated. We have registered apprenticeship programs.”
Hank Heller, a resident of Parsippany for 52 years, said “I just wanted to say that it’s very encouraging to hear all of the union representatives speaking and telling us all about the benefit that unions and PLAs have done for them. But I think it’s very important that you look much more closely at what the costs are of using PLAs as opposed to not using PLAs. I was a member executive board member of the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce for 35 years. There were many programs in Harlem that had to be rebuilt in the time that I was there. And I can tell you that the contractors and the union shops always promised to put more of the people in that minority community into their unions.
For whatever reason the right people were not found or give this training. And my point is simply I don’t begrudge any of these people here. Whatever good that has come to them and their families, I’m happy for them. But I also think that we should not put that into, our measurement of what is good for Parsippany. And I’m talking about fiscally.”
Parsippany resident Bob Venezia
Parsippany resident Bob Venezia said “Recently in the Daily Record they printed a timely article on project labor agreements, PLAs, as they’re called, and Parsippany proposed ordinance 2022:24, which would mandate PLAs on all construction projects over 5 million dollars. 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 the PLAs are overwhelmed by the extra cost that Parsippany taxpayers would incur by passage of this ordinance. Regarding PLAs the assumption is that the skill level of the workers is greater than non-PLA workers. However, I found no available evidence showing that PLA projects are any better or any safer than non-PLA projects. What is not in dispute is that PLA projects are more expensive and tend to have longer duration than non-PLA projects.”
“An October 2010 report by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workflow Development, our state examining 2008 school construction projects found that PLA project costs were 30% higher than non-PLA projects. And that the average duration of the PLA projects was 100 weeks compared to 78 weeks for the non-PLA projects,” he continued.
Tom Williams stated “I am really a free market, competitive person all my life. 59 years of working. Always been competitive. I don’t know why we’re making a change in the bidding process. I never got an explanation for that one. And why 5 million? Why not 1 million? Was there a problem or not? Have we done a cost analysis on this change for the next year or next five years, or can we do a beta test? Take half the sit town this way, half the other way?” He also stated “Maybe no one takes any contributions from anyone who bids on our project over $5 million. Would that be cleaner? No one’s influenced by a project. I’m not sure at just one possible solution. I heard the first person speaking, mentioning the conflict of interest. You pay someone to do this, they give you this, and it goes back and forth. I know you don’t want to that part of the world. Want to be honest? No, no, I’m not. But the conflict can do this.”
“I’m a resident of Parsippany for 20 years. We are all elected officials. Elected by the people of Parsippany. So, by default, you are here to make this town thrive for residents and make decisions for local businesses and to always think what steps you can take to keep taxes low. This decision almost guarantees higher taxes. Unions are the backbone of this country, and I have nothing against them. They do great work. However, keep in mind, local businesses also have vested interest in doing a good job. And to throw them away is a disservice. As elected officials. You said Morris County is fiscally managed well, while that is now, once PLA is enforced. Then in a few years it will still be managed fiscally well because of the higher taxes that the residents will have to pay. So, I urge you to rethink this, modify to give local businesses a fair advantage and your obligation to keep taxes low. I know you are not all heartless and this is a difficult job,” said Pulkit Desai.
Brandon Ray, with Associated Builders and Contractors, said “While these agreements do may seem innocuous even altruistic and motivation the true nature and purpose of these agreements, as we know, is to put a thumb on the scale in favor of a certain segment of contractors. The bidding process and unfairly discourage merits shop contractors from bidding. The number people have referenced about the majority of the workforce in New Jersey is 73% non-union. To put that in perspective, if this PLA goes into effect, you’re essentially excluding seven out of 10 workers from bidding on this project. And the claim that this does not exclude anyone from bidding on these projects, while they may be true on a technical front, is not true in practice. While the requirements can vary, they all almost include provisions that discourage merit shop contractors not affiliated with the union from competing to when taxpayer funded work that they pay taxes for. The contractors that do bid are unable to win a contract without agreeing to the terms within the PLA. And they’re generally excluded from drafting and negotiating those terms. Typically, it requires companies to agree or recognize the union as the representative of their employees use the union hiring hall to obtain their workers, displacing their own and pay the union benefit plans and notably underfunded pension plans that they’ll not be able to access.”
David O. Austin, an attorney with the law firm of LER Mendelson
David Austin, an attorney with the law firm of LER Mendelson, said “The ordinance is inconsistent with state law. It mandates the use of a PLA on every project over 5 million, which is in direct conflict with NJSA52:38-3, the law that enables the ordinance. And that that law unequivocally states that the PLAs may be considered by public bodies on a project-by-project basis. And in 2020, when Governor Murphy conditionally vetoed Senate Bill 1370, he understood also along with the legislature the reason for making sure that PLAs should be on a project-by-project basis. Whether PLA is even needed. With all due respect, ABC submits that before the body invites a potential legal challenge on the theory that the ordinance conflicts with and is preempted by state law. The people deserve to understand from the sponsors of the ordinance specifically and supported by facts why and how the ordinance advances, advances the town township’s interests as opposed to the unions who will greatly benefit from its passage. In addition, ABC urges for and open discussion with its taxpayers about the increased costs that have been documented on PLA projects. Not a single person this evening has refuted the study by our own New Jersey Department of Labor. No study exists. That is the most recent study, and a few other individuals spoke about it earlier. Discussed that the New Jersey Department of Labor found that PLAs ended up costing 30.5% more than non-PLA prevailing wage projects. And the study also concluded that PLA projects took longer to complete by approximately 22 weeks.”
The hallway was packed with Union members who support the PLA
Mayor James Barberio responded, “I just wanted to make several comments with regards to David O. Austin, the attorney that came up. One thing I do not take lightly is threats. And if the ABC is going to sue the township and make those comments, I don’t take them lightly. I have an OPRA (Open Public Records Act) request that was given to me with regards to the President and CEO of ABC. And it says, any communications from 2019, which I wasn’t a mayor then, from Mayor Barberio, with dimension of project, labor agreement project, labor grant, PLAs, PLAs associated builders and contractors. Why would that be sent in when I never had a conversation with the President of the ABC? That kind of frustrated me because I know why it was sent. We’re talking about the free market. We were talking about that tonight. And the ABC argues further that the proposed PLA ordinance runs contrary to the value of free enterprise, fair competition and fiscal conservatism. I guess they’re calling me out that I’m not a conservative, but I think there’s many union members here that are conservative and everything about
The crowd applauds loudly when Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr., supports the PLA
PLAs is adverse from the free market mindset. Well, in building and construction trades council verse associated builders and contractors, however, the US Supreme Court recognized that when a local or a state government act in the role of a purchaser of construction services acts, just acts just like a private contractor would act and conditions at purchasing upon the very sort of labor agreement that Congress explicitly authorize and expect frequently to find. It does not regulate the workings of market forces for that Congress expected to find it exemplifies them. In other words, PLAs are permissible under the National Labor Relations Act because the state or local government acts as a market participant utilizing bid specifications just as any other private contractors would do. Union and non-union contractors are free to bid on the projects covered by PLAs or as participants on the free market choose to bid on projects not covered by PLAs instead. Now I spoke with regards to the amount of projects that have come by Parsippany. 7,500. 7,500 bids and only five were over 5 million dollars. So that’s a significant difference, which means that these is free share around, that’s free enterprise. There’s plenty of work to go around cause most projects are under the 5 million dollars.”
The PLA ordinance is expected to pass 4-1 with Councilman Justin Musella being the sole vote against it.
MORRIS COUNTY — On Tuesday, October 11, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll issued a commendation to Agent Gus Amato for rendering medical assistance while off-duty.
The commendation, signed by Prosecutor Carroll, First Assistant Prosecutor Maggie M. Calderwood, and Chief of Detectives Christoph K. Kimker, was prompted by Agent Amato’s potentially life-saving actions on Thursday, September 15, 2022.
At approximately 12:10 p.m., while on a scheduled day off, Agent Amato entered the BP Gas Station, 42 East Main Street, Denville, where he observed an employee, (who declined to be identified in this release), within the convenience store exhibiting odd and peculiar behavior, and who appeared confused.
Based upon his prior law enforcement first aid training and experience, Agent Amato correctly identified that the victim was suffering from a medical episode. Agent Amato assisted the victim to the floor, then called 9-1-1 and requested medical assistance. While waiting for the arrival of emergency services, Agent Amato continued care and ultimately determined that the victim may have been suffering from a diabetic episode, at which time he asked another patron in the establishment to get a can of soda, then assisted the victim while consuming it.
Once the victim ingested some soda, the condition improved, but medical distress continued.
Agent Amato continued to monitor the situation until emergency services arrived and assumed care of the victim, who was ultimately hospitalized for several days. The victim subsequently spoke with Agent Amato and said, “Thank you, you saved my life”, multiple times.
Prosecutor Carroll stated, “During this incident, Agent Amato exemplified his dedication to public service, and demonstrated how professionals are always on-duty. He not only represents himself well, but also the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office.”
The impact of the pandemic on education is becoming clearer with news the average ACT test score sunk to its lowest point in 30 years, and Sen. Joe Pennacchio said botched government policy is largely to blame.
MORRIS COUNTY — The impact of the pandemic on education is becoming clearer with news the average ACT test score sunk to its lowest point in 30 years, and Senator Joe Pennacchio said botched government policy is largely to blame.
“Like that, we wiped out three decades of hard work and improving performance,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “Heavy-handed edicts from government and pressure from the educational industry is responsible for this troubling development, and it is likely scores will continue to slide in the future because remote learning and mask mandates may have a more serious impact on younger minds.”
ACT is a standardized test used in the admissions process by colleges across the nation. It measures performance in four key areas: English, mathematics, reading, and scientific reasoning.
“It was obvious from early on that education would suffer and students would be big losers in the pandemic,” Pennacchio said. “Did anybody really believe that remote learning was an adequate substitute for classroom lessons, especially given the lax demands on high school kids to attend online classes, let alone participate?
“Woke political agendas, cancel culture and sexual indoctrination have replaced reading, writing and arithmetic as priorities in our schools,” Pennacchio continued. “Until we recommit to the 3 R’s, grades will continue to fall, failure will become more common and acceptable, and the U.S. will lose its standing as a leader in global education rankings.”
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.
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 — 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.”
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
Councilman Justin Musella, Frank Neglia, Paul Carifi, Jr. Council President Michael dePierro and Vice President Loretta Gragnani
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.
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.
Mayor James R Barberio
Council President Michael J. dePierro
Council Vice-President Loretta Gragnani
Councilman Paul Carifi Jr.
Councilman Frank Neglia
Councilman Justin Musella
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.
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.
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.
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!
Justin Musella was named #13 in “Insider NJ’s 2022 Insider 100: Millennials Publication.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 demolishedFour story building was approved for 169 Johnson Road. It will contain 69 market priced units and 18 affordable housing unitsThe 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
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.
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 attendParsippany-Troy Hills Council Meeting,October 18, 7 p.m. Parsippany Hills High School, 20 Rita Drive, to make your voice heard!
Challenger Paul DeGroot and Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11
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.
Dear Editor:
