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

Frank L. Cahill
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Family Promise to Host the Steve Hammond Homebound Hustle 5K & 1 Mile Walk

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

Frank L. Cahill
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parsippany focusDear 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

Frank L. Cahill
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Another Parsippany Office Building Demolished

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

Letters to the Editor
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parsippany focusDear 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

Letters to the Editor
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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

Frank L. Cahill
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11th Congressional District Forum

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

Frank L. Cahill
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parsippany focusDear 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

Frank L. Cahill
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Video: Parsippany-Troy Hills Town Council Meeting – October 11, 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

Frank L. Cahill
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File Your Senior Freeze Property Tax Relief Application by October 31

MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey Senior Freeze program — also known as the Property Tax Reimbursement program — reimburses eligible senior citizens and disabled individuals for increases in property taxes or mobile home park site fees on their principal residence.

Click here for eligibility.

New Jersey Senior Freeze program — also known as the Property Tax Reimbursement program — reimburses eligible senior citizens and disabled individuals for increases in property taxes or mobile home park site fees on their principal residence.

Eligible homeowners are encouraged to file applications online or by phone. However, some homeowners will be required to file a paper application. All eligible tenants can file online or by completing a paper application.

To be eligible, homeowners must have:

  • Been a New Jersey resident; and
  • Owned and occupied a home in New Jersey that was their principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2019; and
  • Paid the 2019 property taxes on their main home; and
  • Had 2019 New Jersey gross income of not more than $250,000.

To be eligible, tenants must have:

  • Been a New Jersey resident; and
  • Rented and occupied an apartment or residence in New Jersey that was their principal residence (main home) on October 1, 2019; and
  • Lived in a unit with its own separate kitchen and bath facilities (if the building had more than one dwelling unit); and
  • Paid rent on their main home, which was subject to local property taxes; and
  • Had 2019 New Jersey gross income of not more than $150,000.

Applicants can choose to receive their benefits either as a check or direct deposit. To learn more about the ANCHOR program, or to file an application, visit the NJ Division of Taxation’s ANCHOR website.

Celebration of Joe Bulgarini’s 100th Birthday

Frank L. Cahill
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Celebration of Joe Bulgarini’s 100th Birthday

PARSIPPANY — Lake Parsippany resident Joe Bulgarini’s celebrated his 100th Birthday on Saturday, October 1, at Applebee’s Parsippany.

Joe was joined by his two daughters, three grandchildren, two great granddaughters, his nieces and his extended family. In addition to his family Mayor James Barberio presented Joe with a “Proclamation.”  Also joining the celebration was Frank Cahill, Chairman of Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development; Robert Peluso, President Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce and Board Member Ildiko Peluso.

Joe served his country with honor during WWII in the United States Army, where he achieved the rank of Sergeant T4 and was deployed to India where his unit worked to keep the Japanese forces from gaining control.

Joe Bulgarini blowing out the candles on his birthday cakee

Joe and his wife Louise moved with their two daughters, Carol and Janice, to Lake Parsippany in 1966 where they created many wonderful memories together.  He also served as President of the Lake Parsippany Property Owners Association.

Joe is the beloved father to Carol Elmstrom and Janice Blinder, devoted grandfather to Sharon, David and Cheryl and loving great-grandfather to Carina and Victoria.

 

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