Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Meeting – October 3, 2023

PARSIPPANY  — Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council Meeting was held on Tuesday, October 3, 2023.

Regular Township Council Meetings will commence at 7:00 p.m. All meetings will be held on Tuesday evenings. Council meetings are held at Parsippany Municipal Building, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard. 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 before the meeting date. Please call (973) 263-4351 to request auxiliary aid.

Click here to download the 2023 agenda schedule.

Mayor and Council

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

Professional Physical Therapy Hosts Ribbon Cutting Celebration

PARSIPPANY  — On Saturday, September 23, Professional Physical Therapy proudly opened its doors with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, offering guests an inside look at their cutting-edge facility equipped with the latest in rehabilitation technology.

Meera Bajaj, Clinical Director of Professional Physical Therapy, shared, “This state-of-the-art facility is a testament to our commitment to delivering tailored and impactful care to our patients. We’re excited to introduce our services to the community.”

Attendees enjoyed guided tours of the facility, highlighting the sophisticated equipment and spaces optimized for patient care. The event also allowed them to interact with the skilled team of therapists and gain insights into the range of services provided, spanning pain management, post-operative rehabilitation, sports injuries, workplace injuries, chronic conditions, fall prevention, and balance training.

Mayor James Barberio commended Meera Bajaj on the opening, noting the vital role such services play, from aiding student-athletes to assisting adults in their fitness journeys. “Your offerings fill a significant gap in our community, and I foresee a bright future for Professional Physical Therapy here.”

Key community figures, including Councilman Justin Musella, Frank Neglia, Chairman Frank Cahill of Parsippany Economic Development, Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce President Robert Peluso, and board members Nicolas Limanov and Ildiko Peluso, graced the occasion.

Frank Cahill, Chairman of Parsippany-Troy Hills Economic Development presented a plaque to Meera Bajaj, Clinical Director of Professional Physical Therapy, thanking her for choosing Parsippany

Chairman Cahill conveyed his congratulations, stating, “We’re grateful you chose Parsippany for your venture. Wishing you tremendous success. You’ve added to our community’s pride.”

Offering both physical and hand therapy services, each patient at Professional Physical Therapy is assured personalized care tailored to their needs, delivered by seasoned therapists.

Situated at 333 Littleton Road, the center is a proud member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce.

Spot Us on Route 287: Our Billboard Is Live!

PARSIPPANY — Exciting news for all those commuting through Parsippany! As of yesterday, our billboard advertising has been launched on Route 287. Keep an eye out for it during your travels, and let us know when you spot it. Safe travels and happy viewing!

If you believe in the mantra #SHOPLOCAL, there’s an app for that! Morris Now, a dedicated non-profit initiative, has made its mission to uplift local businesses in Morris County, especially in these challenging times when many have shifted to online shopping amidst the pandemic.

Here’s why every resident and business owner in Morris County should consider Morris Now:

  1. Support for Local Economy: Local businesses form the backbone of our community. They pay local taxes, employ our neighbors, and support various community initiatives. By supporting them, we’re directly investing in our community’s growth and sustainability.
  2. All-in-One App: Available for free on Google Play and the Apple Store, Morris Now isn’t just about shopping. It offers local news, weather updates, event listings, and even free classifieds. It’s essentially your digital gateway to everything in Morris County.
  3. For Businesses: If you’re a local business owner, don’t miss out! Claim your free business listing at www.morrisnow.com and make your establishment more visible to the community.
  4. Stay Informed: Apart from promoting local shopping, the app serves as a hub of information, ensuring residents are always in the loop about what’s happening in the county.

For more details or assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to Frank Cahill at (973) 559-6000. Make the shift today, download the app, and let’s champion the cause of supporting our local businesses!

UmaSofia of Parsippany Named Miss Teen USA

PARSIPPANY  — UmaSofia Srivastava was named Miss Teen USA. She competed against other young women in the pageant, which assesses contestants in personal interviews, athletic wear, and evening gowns.

Miss New Jersey Teen USA UmaSofia Srivastava was crowned Miss Teen USA 2023 after prevailing over 50 other competitors at the live-streamed pageant in Reno, Nevada.

Among the other top finishers, Miss New York Teen USA Stephanie Skinner was named first runner-up, and Miss Pennsylvania Teen USA Maggie Ross was second runner-up.

UmaSofia Srivastava wore a white minidress with a multicolor floral detail throughout. To secure her Miss Teen USA victory, Srivastava wore a Jovani gown from the brand’s spring 2024 collection. The floor-length gown featured layered lilac fabric with rosette details.

UmaSofia, 16, of Parsippany, is a high school Junior at the Academy of St. Elizabeth. She attended Mt. Tabor Elementary School, Brooklawn Middle School, and her freshman year at Parsippany Hills High School. She was a GRO student since first grade and was involved in many school activities and clubs.

UmaSofia Srivastava is the first Mexican-Indian Miss New Jersey Teen USA and hopes to become a UN ambassador. She works with the Lotus Petal Foundation to help underprivileged children in India receive a well-rounded education, proper nutrition, and healthcare. UmaSofia also collected over 1,000 books for the Bridge of Books Foundation to donate to inner-city kids in New Jersey.

She authored and illustrated her book, The White Jaguar, to inspire people of all ages to embrace what makes them unique. Throughout the book, there are four languages: English, Spanish, Hindi, and French – all of which she speaks.

Srivastava hopes to become a UN ambassador and has already moved towards that goal with her work with the Lotus Petal Foundation which helps underprivileged children in India, according to her pageant biography.

Reprinted from Parsippany Focus Magazine, October 2023. Click here to read the magazine.

Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Hosts Spooktacular Trunk or Treat Event! 🎃

PARSIPPANY  — Get ready for a spooky and fun-filled evening as the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills invites everyone to its Trunk or Treat event! It promises to be a spooktacular gathering, scheduled for October 31, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., at the Veterans Memorial Park, come rain or shine.

A Community Endeavor 🕸️

The township calls upon residents, local organizations, and businesses to come together to make this event a booming success for the children. Attendees are encouraged to come with their vehicles decorated in festive and spooky themes. For those preferring a stationary setup, 8 ft tables will be available for displaying treats.

Registration and Contributions 🦇

Registration is mandatory for those setting up trunks or tables, ensuring a well-organized and smooth-running event.

Children attending are required to contribute one bag of factory-sealed candy or a sealed bag of non-food treats, ensuring a safe and enjoyable treat collection for everyone. There’s no admission fee, making it a fun, accessible event for all families in the township.

Trunk & Table Registration 🍬

To register your trunk or table click here.

Join the Frightful Fun 🌟

This event is not just about treats; it’s about community bonding, fun, and creating delightful memories. So, gear up with your spookiest decorations and join the township in making this Halloween a memorable one for the children!

Reprinted from Parsippany Focus Magazine, October 2023. Click here to read the magazine.


Parsippany-Troy Hills School Board Candidates to Face Off in Upcoming Debate

PARSIPPANY  — Candidates for the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Board of Education are gearing up for a debate on October 3 at 7:00 p.m. This anticipated forum is being co-organized by the League of Women Voters of the Morristown Area. The debate will be live streamed on YouTube by clicking here. You can also view the debate afterward and will be available to view on Parsippany Focus.

For this year’s election, a significant number of candidates are in the race, with 12 individuals having filed petitions for the available seats on the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Board of Education. This information comes directly from the Morris County Clerk’s office, indicating a keen interest in the three available three-year seats.

The candidates in the running include:

  • Matthew DeVitto
  • Timothy P. Berrios
  • Andrew Choffo
  • Kendra Von Achen
  • Balakrishna “Bala” Samaga
  • Nilesh Bagdai
  • Falgun Bakhtarwala
  • Cassandra Cogan (who has opted out of the debate)
  • Wendy Wright
  • Nicole Dellafave
  • Lily Benavides
  • Deitria Smith-Snead

It’s worth noting that both Von Achen and DeVitto are current members of the school board, adding a dimension of experience to the race.

The school board plays a pivotal role in the community, overseeing critical decisions like hiring administrators and managing property tax funds. Notably, school board elections have been held in November since 2012, following a state law change. Previously, these elections were held in April.

The general election in New Jersey is set for Tuesday, November 7.

In addition to the League of Women Voters of the Morristown Area, the Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Board of Education debate is co-hosted by the Parsippany Woman’s Club and the Daily Record.

Community Celebrates with Spirited Runs and Family Fun at the 12th Annual SAX 4 Miler

PARSIPPANY  — The 12th Annual SAX 4 Miler took place on Saturday, September 30, at the modern headquarters of Sax LLP, located at 389 Interpace Parkway, with the noble aim of raising funds for St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.

Leon Grassi, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Business Development, addressed the assembled attendees.

Since its inception in 2012, the event has raised nearly $800,000, with this year’s goal being to cross the $1 million mark. At the point of this article, Sax LLP has successfully raised $97,594 for the year, and contributions continue to flow in.

Sax LLP is a staunch supporter of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, allocating 100% of the proceeds from this event directly to the hospital’s Child Life Department. This department specializes in offering holistic therapies to children, relying entirely on external support, including the funds generated by the 4 Miler.

Leon Grassi, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Business Development, along with Parsippany-Troy Hills Councilman Justin Musella, were present at the 12th Annual 4 Miler on Saturday, September 30. The event unfolded at the contemporary headquarters of Sax LLP, situated at 389 Interpace Parkway, Parsippany, and was organized with the objective of generating funds for St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.

Helena Lynch Achieves Top Individual Fundraiser, Securing $650; Margaret Henn, Carly O’Connell, and Richard Kotkin each garner $500 at the annual event.

Sax, LLP emerges as the top corporate team with $6,150; Team St. Joseph’s Health secures $762.77, Cardiopulmonary raises $675, and Felician University School of Nursing raises $345.

Kevin J. Slavin, President & CEO at St. Joseph’s Health

Stuart Berger, CPA, and partner at Sax LLP, who founded the event twelve years ago, expressed, “The 4 Miler is one of our key events, allowing us to support our communities and assist the extraordinary team at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, ensuring pediatric patients receive crucial programs and services.” Achieving $1 million in raised funds is a significant milestone, made possible by the participants, donors, and sponsors.

This year’s 4 Miler showcased a 4-mile run on a scenic, USA Track and Field Certified (USATF) double-loop course and also featured a two- and four-mile walk. There were kids’ dashes designed for ages 2-11, ranging from 25 to 200 yards, along with a plethora of family-friendly activities including a DJ, a face painter, and a balloon artist.

Kids were treated to an array of activities including a balloon artist, face painting, sand bracelet creation, and more.

Attendees had the opportunity to experience the newly introduced 4-mile run on a picturesque, USA Track and Field Certified (USATF) double-loop course, and families were invited to participate in the Kids’ dashes, tailored for children aged 2-11, with distances varying between 25 to 200 yards.

Kids were treated to an array of activities including a balloon artist, face painting, sand bracelet creation, and more.
The children enjoyed delightful moments with face painting and the creative works of the balloon artist.
Sax LLP fervently backs St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, directing 100% of the proceeds from this event straight to the hospital’s Child Life Department. This sector is dedicated to providing comprehensive therapies to children, depending entirely on external contributions, including those raised by the 4 Miler.
Attendees had the opportunity to experience the newly introduced 4-mile run on a picturesque, USA Track and Field Certified (USATF) double-loop course, and families were invited to participate in the Kids’ dashes, tailored for children aged 2-11, with distances varying between 25 to 200 yards.
Cloris Bustamante, Director of Community Outreach at St. Joseph’s Health, provides insights on maintaining good health
The registration tables
They’re off to the races! ‘On Your Marks!’ This year’s 4 Miler showcased a scenic 4-mile run on a USA Track and Field Certified (USATF) double-loop course, with options for a two- and four-mile walk also included.
Family Affair: The Greenwood Family – Evonne, Don, and their children Emma, 8; Evangeline, 6; and Donald, 4, all took part in the Kids Races.

Marc and Samantha Mustachio participated in the SAX 4 Miler’s 4-mile run

Reprinted from Parsippany Focus Magazine, October 2023. Click here to read the magazine.

Letter to the Editor: Accountability is Essential to Protecting our Democracy

Dear Editor:

parsippany focus

By now, we’ve all heard the news that Donald Trump was indicted for a fourth time, this time on racketeering charges in Georgia for the criminal conspiracy he led to overturn the 2020 election.  

The indictments in Georgia and Washington, D.C. made clear that Trump knew he had lost the 2020 presidential election, but worked with his cronies on a variety of illegal schemes to change the election’s outcome so he could remain in power. When his plans to pressure state officials to overturn the will of voters and create fake elector certificates failed to secure him the presidency, Trump and his allies resorted to instigating a violent insurrection to try to keep Trump in power. 

We must make sure this never happens again in the United States of America. Accountability is essential to protecting our democracy, our freedom to vote, and future elections. 

No one is above the law, including former presidents. Trump’s trial must proceed without political interference so that a jury of everyday Americans can do their jobs. 

Sincerely,

Lindsey Ryan

Letter to the Editor: People of the Town Deserve a Voice

Dear Editor:

parsippany focus

Vote Parsippany Democrats in November. Why Keep Delaying the Future? People of the Town Deserve a Voice.

Matt Kavanagh is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and is familiar with managing budgets. Bernie Clarkin is an accountant, not an adjuster, therefore no more financial looting of specific designated funding, especially water and sewer. Judy Hernandez is an environmental/stormwater engineer, not a developer clown, who believes in endless growth at others’ expense.

Municipal Government is not a business, it’s an entrusted responsibility, not something to be given away or severely compromised. What good has the rateable chase done Parsippany; over development, land destruction, water problems, trashed community, traffic just a few. Allowing developers to determine Parsippany’s destiny and not its residence is also a betrayal of the public trust.

Affordable Housing Responsibility

Now Housing Mandates. Parsippany set itself up for this by being over-developed, what else can be done with this “corporate real estate” that litters our landscapes; tax ratables and spending without frugality have earmarked Parsippany for more outside domination by corporate real estate barons. 

Misplaced Blame, and False Assumptions through Disinformation. COVID Impact ignored

Blaming the former Soriano Administration for bringing so-called affordable housing to Parsippany, showed the lack of understanding of the issue by the general public. It was Soriano’s administration that lowered the numbers from what former Attorney John Inglesino developer friends had wished. It was also Inglesino who allowed PILOT deals with 1515 Route 10 and the UPS facility (UPS profited $14 billion in 2014); so why a PILOT deal?  Waterview landscape was also lost to development, another unneeded mall, after a grassroots movement accomplished a no-rezone decision and a promise of open space. Parsippany tax-payers coughed up $4 million in local open space, for something that should have been zoned as a buffer, the 300-feet all were speaking of. There was more, 700 Mountain Way for Forge Pond. Forge Pond could not be developed, as a wetland, and 700 Mountain Way an environmentally sensitive area, was lost to another Mosberg LLC deal.

Believing in Progress but not its consequences of waste, pollution, and Over-Development?

Republicans believe in the myth of progress and the fantasy of what the United States was and in many ways is no more. Endless growth is unsustainable and defies the laws of nature and limits. Denial of man-made climate change despite the science is disturbing. Corporations as people and people as mere consumers, chattel that must serve the system, not a system that serves them. 

If you don’t know, how the world really works in an ecological sense, you are incapable of fitting or preventing more problems from being created. Our water infrastructure is a good example, In the recent past 11 of the 19 wells had severe problems, 4 wells; 3 went dry, and one shut down due to contamination. Parsippany has the highest water deficit in the watershed, due to over-development, not protecting recharge areas, (like Waterview, Mountain Way), depletion, and consumption, and water-mining. Only nature makes us great. 

What good has the corporate rateable chase done Parsippany, if taxes keep increasing? 

 Every election look at the mass pollution of political signs, all posted as opposed to the rules, as the rules are apparently for someone else. The signs are also evidence of following the money, the corporate campaign sponsors’ interest, not the people of the affected community. Under corporate power, the property becomes anti-community, anti-earth itself. Profits for corporations placed above health welfare and sustainable life is the great flaw of power and control, not a caring democracy. 

 We need  Candidates with a long-term vision of a sustainable future, in Parsippany. Without an ecological paradigm in government, we like lemmings continue blindly into the myth of progress, and evade real needed evolution into a sustainable life worth living. Problems of quality of life cannot be solved by tax-ratables and endless growth outside the laws of nature.

Science is telling us one thing, while politicians deny or ignore thru dark money allowed in the system. The Climate Crisis is the most pressing issue of the time. Those who deny the science will take us to the point of no return, as they retreat to their enclosures.

Parsippany is like a landscaper with no Land Ethic 

Time for real change, not musical chair politics. Republicans are not trying to improve or make things better as needed, from single-stream recycling to lack of political courage to enforce source separation mandates that cost us all, pretending that somehow what we see before us, is an acceptable norm. Parsippany can do better. 

The Good is the Bad we don’t do. Vote Democrat Vote Community Vote Sustainable Future

Nick Homyak

Rain or Shine: Resilient Kids Overcome Weather, Raise Funds for Parsippany Food Pantry

PARSIPPANY — The 3rd Annual FUNdRAISER for the Parsippany Food Pantry 2023, spearheaded by Vivan Bhattacharya, a Third Grade Student at Littleton Elementary, has successfully concluded, amassing a total of $1,050.00. This initiative, involving the creative contributions of Sathvikha Bharanidharan, Joey Carson, Ashneel Kumar, Eishan Kumar, and Vivan Bhattacharya, transformed children’s art into salable greeting cards, with all proceeds benefiting the pantry.

Art and effort from other young contributors like Ashmi Mazumder, Connor Kaczorowski, Amyra Rai, Anhik Jena, and Ashi were pivotal in the fundraising process. The funds were graciously received by Michele Picone, the Director of Health and Human Services, at the Parsippany Food Pantry.

The students with Michele Picone, the Director of Health and Human Services, at the Parsippany Food Pantry

This marked Vivan’s third consecutive year orchestrating the FUNdRAISER in an effort to uplift the community. Although a planned sales event at the Parsippany Farmers Market on September 8 was canceled due to weather conditions, the resilient young fundraisers improvised, opening shop from a car trunk at Veteran’s Park after the rain and engaging with passersby.

The support and encouragement from Mayor James Barberio, Councilman Paul Carifi, Jr., Principal Staples of Littleton Elementary School, and the generous residents of Parsippany were instrumental in scaling this initiative, initiated during COVID-19, to new heights. Their combined efforts and community spirit translated into over a thousand dollars in donations, a testament to the generosity of Parsippany’s residents.

Heartfelt thanks are extended to the benevolent friends, family, and residents of Parsippany who have supported this cause, enabling it to evolve from a small endeavor to a substantial contribution to the community.