PARSIPPANY — Mwaura Muroki, Vice President Commerical Loans, Valley National Bank presentedahold a small business financing seminar for businesses with sales revenue up to $1 million. The event took place at IHOP, 792 Route 46.
As part of the breakfast meeting, members had the opportunity to network and talk about their business.
Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce (PACC) is a service organization for businesses, merchants, residents, and volunteers that provides education, information, and networking opportunities to the Parsippany Area. PACC works with local and county governments and stand ready to pursue any matter that can make our community a better place in which to live, conduct business, and make a living. They promote a healthy and more prosperous economic climate.
For more information on Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce, click here.
PACC members listening to the presentation by Valley National Bank
Valley National Bancorp is a regional bank holding company headquartered in Wayne, New Jersey with over $19 billion in assets. Its principal subsidiary, Valley National Bank, currently operates 217 branch locations serving 24 counties throughout northern and central New Jersey, the New York City boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island, and southeast and central Florida. Valley National Bank is one of the largest commercial banks headquartered in New Jersey and is committed to providing the most convenient service, the latest in product innovations and an experienced and knowledgeable staff with a high priority on friendly customer service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For more information about Valley National Bank and its products and services, please visit www.valleynationalbank.com or call our 24/7 Customer Service Center at (800) 522-4100.
For more information, please contact Ildiko Peluso, Territory Sales Manager, at (201) 280-5652 oripeluso@valleynationalbank.com.
PARSIPPANY — With the general election just a few weeks away, The Puddingstone Community is hosting a “Meet the Candidates Night” on Tuesday, October 27 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
There are six candidates running for three open positions on Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council. The candidates will be discussing their qualifications and platforms as well as taking questions from the audience.
Council President Paul Carifi, Jr., Councilman Michael dePierro and Council Candidate Loretta Gragnani
The democratic ticket is Janice McCarthy, Nick Kumburis and Greg Elbin. On the Republican ticket is Council President Paul Carifi, Jr., Councilman Michael J. dePierro and new comer Loretta Gragnani.
The Puddingstone Community Club is located at 24 High Ridge Road.
For additional information and RSVP please contact: Phil Eden at (862) 251-0281 or email by clicking here or Tom Williams at (973) 540-9691 or by emailing by clicking here.
Remember to vote on Tuesday, November 3. Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. If you are not sure where to vote, you can click here, or you can call Morris County Board of Elections at (973) 285-8350.
Parsippany Focus will be publishing live updates of the results on Election night, starting at 8:00 p.m.
Where to vote in Parsippany:
Ward
District
Location
00
01
Public Safety Training Academy
500 West Hanover Avenue, Morris Plains
Classroom 141
GPS: 40.835486, -74.519031
00
02
Fire House – Powder Mill
60 South Powder Mill Road
Squad Room
GPS: 40.857957, -74.490975
00
03
Intervale School
60 Pitt Road
Gym
GPS: 40.8816981, -74.4225234
Morris County has initiated a new state-approved and state-financed pilot program for Medicaid that will employ an outside contractor, Xerox Corp., to process tens of thousands of Medicaid eligibility determinations annually, which should reduce case backlogs and result in more timely decisions, without adding new full-time staff to the county’s payroll.
The County Department of Human Services recently finalized a Memorandum of Understanding with the state Department of Human Services to shift the processing of Medicaid eligibility determinations from the County Welfare Office to Xerox, which is the state’s Health Benefits Coordinator.
However, long term care and emergency applications will remain with the county. Also, county employees will continue to assist clients to apply for Medicaid on-line using the NJ FamilyCare application that will be sent directly to Xerox for processing.
The transfer of Medicaid determinations will free up county Human Services employees to provide additional support in other benefit programs, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, General Assistance and Supplemental Nutritional Assistance.
Freeholder Hank Lyon
“This pilot program will have a positive impact on our community, reducing the backlogs and wait times, better serving individuals, families, seniors, people with disabilities and veterans, while also benefitting the taxpayers of Morris County,” said Freeholder Hank Lyon, who is the county governing board’s liaison on Human Services issues.
“For the past several years, the economic climate has been fraught with challenges for government, particularly for the Human Services system,’’ said Morris County Director of Human Services Jennifer Carpinteri. “With the implementation of Medicaid expansion and changes in various funding streams that support some of our most critical services, we must look at our infrastructure to find efficiencies while continuing to provide high quality services.”
“This pilot program will have a positive impact on our community, reducing the backlogs and wait times, better serving individuals, families, seniors, people with disabilities and veterans,” said Freeholder Hank Lyon, who is the county governing board’s liaison on Human Services issues.
The goals of the Morris County pilot project are to improve timely and appropriate eligibility determinations and improve customer experience:
All new and re-determination community Medicaid cases in Morris County would be shifted to Xerox. As of October 15, there were 33,253 Medicaid cases in Morris County in 2015.
New Morris County applicants would be directed to apply online by clicking here. Online applications would be routed electronically to the Health Benefits Coordinator’s state-approved system, which would assume responsibility for the case with state oversight.
Morris County will maintain eligibility determination responsibility for all new and existing long-term care, aged, blind and disabled, and medical emergency cases.
MORRIS COUNTY — Some Morris County staff will be re-assigned to provide additional workers in other units to reduce backlogs and help meet compliance and timelines issues in other benefit programs.
This pilot will allow the county to ensure federal compliance without hiring additional staff.
As a result of Medicaid expansion in 2014, county caseloads increased by more than 50 percent statewide, including in Morris County. County welfare agencies struggled to keep pace with increased volume. It resulted in significant backlogs in Morris County.
To reduce the strain, the state shifted pending cases and new online applications to Xerox. While this action helped a bit, Morris County still was unable to keep pace with the need for public assistance. The new pilot project is expected to make a major difference.
“This “out-of-the-box” business model will be the first of its kind in New Jersey, and the state and county are equally motivated to explore this pilot together,” said Valerie Harr, Director of the Department of Human Services’ Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services, which administers Medicaid.
“Partnering with the state is advantageous to both the state and Morris County,” she added.
To further explore efficiencies, Morris County will partner with community providers to assist clients is applying for Medicaid online, with applications sent directly to Xerox for processing. This is an opportunity to potentially save transportation costs and overtime costs, while fostering a client-friendly approach to accessing services.
For more information, click here.
For more information on Medicaid, click here.
For the NJ FamilyCare application, click here.
PARSIPPANY — Patrolmen E. Giordano, E. Ebanks, and J. Mendez responded to the Parsippany Inn, 2939 Route 10, at 1:21 a.m. on Friday, October 16 for an active fight between two individuals. Upon arrival of Patrolman E. Giordano, found William Cole, 47, Morris Plains, outside the building with facial injuries and Victor Columbo, 37, Parsippany, inside the building with a stab wound to the abdominal area.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Police spokesman Patrolman Brian Conover, stated on Tuesday, October 20, “Mr. Columbo was not released from the Morristown Medical Center on Friday and his bail of $35,000 was rescinded. He was released on his own recognizance pending his court date.”
First Aid was immediately rendered to Mr. Columbo by Patrolman E. Giordano. Patrol Lieutenant D. McConnell, Patrol Sergeant R. Carrozzino, Detective M. Czajka, Patrolwoman M. Kardos, Patrolman C. Silva along with Patrol units from Denville Police Department and Morris Plains Police Department arrived on scene to assist.
Two ambulances from the Parsippany Volunteer Ambulance squad treated Mr. Columbo and Mr. Cole.
Detective M. Czajka conducted his preliminary investigation and both individuals were placed under arrest and transported to Morristown Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.
Morris County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene and assisted with processing the area. A kitchen type knife was recovered from the scene.
Once Mr. Columbo and Mr. Cole were released from Morristown Medical Center they were transported to the Morris County Correctional Facility.
Mr. Columbo was charged with Aggravated Assault Causing Serious Bodily injury with a bail of $35,000.
Mr. Cole was charged with Aggravated Assault causing injury with a Weapon, Possession of a weapon with a purpose to use it unlawfully against the person or property of another, and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon with a bail of $50,000.
This incident remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call the Investigative Division at (973) 263-4313.
Editors Note: A complaint or a charge is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
With the Autumn upon us, we enjoy the upcoming traditions the season brings: crisp weather, hot apple cider and … the Parsippany-Troy Hills Board of Education election!
We encourage all residents, whether or not you have children in the district, to come out and vote on Tuesday, November 3. Keep an eye out in the mail for your sample ballot.
If you need to register to vote, confirm your polling location or have other questions, please call the town clerk at (973) 263-4350 or click here. You can also call the county Clerk’s Office at (973) 285-6066 or click here.
As incumbents, we are seeking re-election. Even though we are running unopposed, please do not let this deter you from exercising this most basic, yet important, right: your right to vote. And please do not think that we take your vote for granted. It’s just the opposite actually.
We know that this has been a tough time for students, teachers, parents and the community. We, too, have been deeply moved by these challenges and we want you to know we hear you. Our children deserved better. We are on the right path, but we have lots more to do. So now, we are more dedicated than ever to serve and advocate for our beloved community.
Thank you for the opportunity to make meaningful changes and allowing us to serve the school and taxpayer communities. We hope to see you at the polls in November!
PARSIPPANY — During last Wednesday’s freeholder meeting, Freeholders John Krickus Hank Lyon, Thomas J. Mastrangelo and David Scapicchio voted in favor of Resolution No. 24 to appoint Dr. Louis Valori, Parsippany, to the Park Commission to fill the unexpired five-year term of Judith Schleicher, which ends December 31, 2017. Schleicher stepped down earlier this year because she was moving out-of-state.
Freeholders John Cesaro and Doug Cabana abstained, since they work for the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, where Dr. Louis Valori is a councilman. Cabana serves as municipal prosecutor and Cesaro serves as municipal public defender.
Freeholder Director Kathryn A. DeFillippo expressed full opposition to opening up seats on the commission to politicians. She believes Valori is a qualified candidate but she does not want to see the position politicized and wants to give citizens the volunteer opportunity.
The appointment to the Commission is a non-paid position.
The Morris County Park Commission is the largest county park system in New Jersey based on acreage with over 18,730 acres of parkland including 38 facilities: historic sites, golf courses, outdoor educational and recreational facilities, arboretum, conservation areas, 150 miles of trails, ice skating arena, and an artificial turf field complex with two inline hockey rinks.
Last year more than 3.5 million visit the parks. The parks offer award-winning programs, special events, and activities for all ages.
The Morris County Park Commission has a staff includes 156 full-time, 149 seasonal and part-time employees and hundreds of volunteers contribute more than 13,000 hours annually.
For more information on Morris County Park Commission, click here.
MORRIS COUNTY — The Christie Administration today proposed a significant overhaul to the state’s Water Quality Management Planning (WQMP) rule that will provide county and local planning agencies with flexibility to maintain high standards of environmental protection while balancing opportunities for economic growth, N.J. Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin announced today.
The Water Quality Management Planning rule requires local planning agencies to identify areas suitable for wastewater infrastructure based upon the ecological capacity of water bodies to accept future wastewater, as well as other environmental factors.
The proposed WQMP rule, published in the New Jersey Register, will give county and local planning agencies more flexibility in making land-use decisions and evaluating environmental impacts when mapping areas suitable for wastewater infrastructure.
It also will eliminate duplication of overlapping DEP regulatory requirements to provide for greater consistency and clarity as plans are developed.
There will be three public hearings, including a November 10 hearing at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum–Haggerty Center– in Morris Township.
“These revisions are consistent with the Governor’s goals of reducing unnecessary red tape while maintaining the high standards of environmental protection New Jersey residents expect,” Commissioner Martin said.
DEP Commissioner Bob Martin
“Through these rule changes, the DEP is adopting an approach to water quality protection that recognizes that sound planning can and does occur at the local level. We will foster better planning by providing county and local planners with the flexibility to consider a range of options to address issues and solve problems.”
Specifically the proposed rule will:
Provide for comprehensive planning of water quality infrastructure to better protect the environment in the long term;
Limit where sewers can be located, thus allowing denser development only in those areas that are not environmentally sensitive and where it is consistent with local zoning;
Protect groundwater quality by setting goals for nitrate dilution from septic systems;
Allow counties and other planning entities more flexibility in preparing water quality plans;
Promote more cooperation between the DEP and counties in finding solutions to environmental issues;
Allow for the continuation of approvals of sewer service area amendments consistent with environmental standards and local planning objectives;
Defer to management plans for the Pinelands and Highlands concerning development decisions in those regions; and
Enhance the DEP’s ability to resolve capacity issues at wastewater treatment plants.
County and local planning agencies will have a year following final adoption of the rule to adopt wastewater management plans. At its discretion, the DEP may choose to develop plans for any agencies that do not meet this deadline.
“Through these changes, the DEP will be able to work collaboratively – not as adversaries – with county and local planning agencies, who know their communities best, to achieve the shared goal of sound planning policies that protect the ecologically sensitive areas that ought to be protected and direct development to where it is appropriate,” said Dan Kennedy, DEP’s Assistant Commissioner for Water Resources Management.
The DEP is concurrently proposing a related Capacity Assurance Program (CAP) rule to ensure that wastewater treatment systems avoid overloads that could result in discharges that don’t meet water quality requirements.
While the WQMP rule takes a longer-term look at future circumstances and development, the CAP rule focuses on the near-term implementation of capital improvements or other measures to handle today’s flows.
The DEP has been meeting with stakeholders since 2012 to identify and correct numerous problems with the existing Water Quality Management Planning Rule, adopted by a previous administration in 2008.
Many counties were unable to complete a requirement that they prepare extremely detailed wastewater management plans, which include detailed projections of growth and sewer capacity, in part because this required zoning impacts that could only be decided at the municipal level. This hampered the adoption of sewer service area mapping that is essential to sound planning and environmental protection.
This rule also was extremely complex, overly broad, lacked flexibility, was duplicative of existing planning requirements, and deterred economic growth in areas where development is appropriate.
Despite additional guidance and time provided by both the Legislature and DEP, county planning agencies were having an extremely difficult time meeting deadlines and complying with the rule. The current rule proposal has been deemed consistent with the goals of the State Development and Redevelopment Plan by the State Smart Growth Ombudsman.
Today’s publication in the Register triggers a 60-day public comment period ending December 18, 2015. Comments may be submitted electronically by clicking here or in writing to:
Gary J. Brower, Esq.
Attention: DEP Docket Number 10-15-09
Office of Legal Affairs
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
401 East State Street, 7th Floor
Mail Code 401-04L; P.O. Box 402
Trenton, NJ 08625-0402
Public hearings will be held on the following dates:
Tuesday, November 10, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Freylinghuysen Arboretum
Haggerty Room
353 East Hanover Avenue
Morris Township, NJ 07962
Tuesday, November17, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Gloucester County Clayton Complex
Clayton Auditorium
1200 Delsea Drive
Clayton, NJ 08312
Monday, November 30, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
DEP Public Hearing Room
401 East State Street
Trenton, NJ 08625
For more information, including FAQs, guidance documents and the full versions of the WQMP rule proposal and concurrent CAP rule proposal, click here.
PARSIPPANY — A smoke condition coming from the furnace was called in at 112 Hiawatha Boulevard at approximately 7:00 p.m. on Monday, October 19. Upon arrival of firefighters they discovered a “working fire”.
Lake Hiawatha Volunteer Fire District 4, Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire Department 5, Parsippany-Troy Hills Volunteer Fire District 6 and Boonton’s Rapid Intervention Team arrived at the scene along with Rockaway Neck’s First Aid Squad.
Shortly thereafter it was identified to be an “attic incident” with smoke pushing from eaves on the house.
The firemen stretched a hose through the front door of the home. Parsippany-Troy Hills Rescue and Recovery was called to the scene with the air truck to fill air bottles.
The building inspector and board of health were requested to the scene since the home was deemed uninhabitable.
The residents are staying at a friend’s home located on North Beverwcyk Road. There were no injuries reported.
The home is owned by Newbridge Services, a non-profit organization.
Firemen at the scene
Firemen inside the house
Bringing an axe inside the home
Andres Giraldo (right) entering the home through the front door
PARSIPPANY — Ms. Dorothy Lisa, 57, Parsippany, was travelling south in the parking lot of Arlington Plaza, 808 Route 46 at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 15.
Ms. Lisa stated she stopped at the intersection and attempted to cross the intersection, and did not see the vehicle driven by Ms. Carol Melois, 64, Parsippany, in the intersection.
Ms. Lisa was at fault for the collision for driver inattention and failure to yield right of way.
Ms. Lisa was driving a 2000 Acura, and the vehicle was towed from the scene by Powdermill Towing. Ms. Melois was driver a 2011 Lexus Wagon, and was also towed away from the scene by Powdermill Towing.
According to police records, there were no summons issued at the time of the incident.
The accident was investigated by Parsippany-Troy Hills Patrolman Gregory Bloete.
PARSIPPANY — Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. announced today that it will reorganize its U.S. Commercial organization as it begins to transition from a maturing primary care product portfolio to a differentiated specialty portfolio that will include areas such as cardiovascular, pain management and oncology. Daiichi Sankyo is located at Two Hilton Court.
“As we face the loss of exclusivity in the coming year of our largest product, we also look ahead to great opportunities with our emerging portfolio in cardiology, oncology, fibromyalgia and pain relief,” said Ken Keller, President, U.S. Commercial, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. “This calls for us to restructure our organization into a smaller, highly targeted and efficient operating model, with a greater emphasis on customer-facing roles.”
As part of the reorganization, the Company will reduce expenses, including a reduction in headcount, from its U.S. Commercial operations. The Company expects to eliminate 1,000 to 1,200 positions across the U.S. Commercial function, through voluntary and involuntary displacements as well as eliminating open positions. The eliminated jobs will come from the U.S. Commercial Home Office, located in Parsippany, as well as field-based sales and other positions throughout the country. This reorganization is not focused on U.S.-based R&D functions, which have staff concentrated in Edison, or its packaging plant in Bethlehem, PA.
“Daiichi Sankyo recognizes the macro changes occurring in the U.S. healthcare system that place a greater emphasis on managing the needs of patients with more complex healthcare needs. As a specialty company, we will be positioned to meet those needs and invest in advancing technologies that will make a significant difference in patient lives,” said Keller. “While this initiative will place us on the path toward long-term success, it does require us to make some difficult decisions. We are grateful for the contributions of all of our employees and are committed to making this process as easy and streamlined as possible for them through outplacement services and other support.”