By Council Vice President Janice McCarthy

Former councilman Lou Valori put on quite a show at last Wednesday night’s budget hearing with the major theme of his performance highlighting campaign commitments of the new administration that are no longer possible. What he failed to mention was why: the answer is because the prior administration and council chose to engineer a zero-tax increase in an election year ignoring the consequences in subsequent years. A zero-tax increase in 2017, along with years of deficit spending that required the transfer of increasing amounts of sewer surplus to cover higher municipal expenses put the town in a very difficult financial position that will take years to overcome.

Property taxes while kept low have not been able to cover increasing municipal expenses so more and more sewer surplus has been used to cover the shortfall in revenue raised from property taxes. While the sewer and water utilities surpluses continue to be positive they are regenerating at a lesser rate. In 2017 the sewer surplus alone was not enough to cover the shortfall in property taxes. So last year $700,000 was transferred from the water utility surplus in order to achieve the 2017 zero property tax. In total $3.2 million of utility surplus was used. Continuing on this path is not sustainable and shows why the actions of the prior mayor and council were irresponsible to approve a zero-tax increase.

It was clearly stated at the hearings that totally eliminating the use of utility funds at this point, which Mr.Valori called for in his comments, would increase taxes an estimated 9% plus. That is not fair to Parsippany residents. Instead the proposed budget being reviewed by this council begins to reduce the use of utilities funds gradually while minimizing the tax impact on residents as much as possible. This year the proposed 3.5% tax increase includes 2% cap as promised during the campaign plus 1.5%. The 1.5% at a minimum is necessary to partially cover last year’s politically motivated zero tax increase. This may not be a popular decision but it is one that is more concerned with the welfare of the town and its residents rather than politics.

Conversely during Mr. Valori’s tenure on council he reserved voting for tax increases as much as 4.2% only in non-election years, yet in making his comments at the budget hearing on Wednesday he stated “3.5% is unheard of, probably historical in this town”.

Mr. Valori showed little interest in the facts that were presented at the hearings by the Business Administrator, CFO and Independent Auditor detailing the negative impact of the prior mayor and council’s decisions and more interested in grandstanding that in my opinion was very unprofessional.

He was given 5 minutes like everyone else (uninterrupted). After his comments he took his seat. While Council President Carifi and I each attempted to address his comments, Mr. Valori was disruptive and argumentative, continually interrupting and shouting out comments from his seat. He was asked several times to stop; finally, the Mayor and Council President asked the policeman to restore order. (Facts which obviously escaped Tapinto Parsippany’s recent article)

Hopefully, politics does not influence the decision the council makes on this year’s budget. If we are going to begin to recover financially, the council needs to work together to pass a budget that is in the town’s best interest not the next election.

Adam Warner Eagle Scout Court of Honor

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PARSIPPANY — At the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Adam Warner on Sunday, June 12, Adam was presented with the highest advancement of Boy Scouts, the “Eagle Scout.”

The Eagle Scout Award is Scouting’s highest rank and among its most familiar icons. Men who have earned it count it among their most treasured possessions. Those who missed it by a whisker remember exactly which requirement they didn’t complete. Americans from all walks of life know that being an Eagle Scout is a great honor. The award is more than a badge. It’s a state of being. The Eagle Scout may have received the badge as a boy, but you earn it every day as a man. In the words of the Eagle Scout Promise, they do your best each day to make their training and example, their rank and their influence count strongly for better Scouting and for better citizenship in the troop, in their community, and in their contacts with other people. And to this they pledge their sacred honor.

The pathway to Eagle can be described as a steep trail leading up to three peaks, the highest being that of Eagle Scout. Officially, the trail starts with the Tenderfoot rank and continues through Second and First Class ranks. Then, the mountain climbing begins. The path is marked with merit badges, leadership responsibilities, service projects, and the practice of Scouting skills and ideals. The first peak reached is that of Star Scout, the second is Life Scout, and, finally, Eagle Scout.

Adam is a Senior at Parsippany Hills High School and will be attending Rutgers University — New Brunswick (College of Engineering) in the fall.

Adam started scouting in first grade as a Tiger Scout with Pack 142. He participated in several Pinewood Derbies and campouts. He bridged into Boy Scouts with Troop 72 in 2010 and advanced to the rank of Second Class within his first year of Boy Scouts.

He attended National Youth Leadership Training at the age of 12 and was soon elected to Assistant Senior Patrol leader the following year. After more campouts, he registered for a trip to the Boy Scout’s of America’s most revered High Adventure Base, Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico.

He was the Crew Chief of eight other scouts and three adults from Troop 7 in Madison and lead the crew on a 10-day seventy-five mile backpacking hike through America’s backcountry. He returned and quickly began his Eagle project, finishing only days before his eighteenth birthday. Adam’s scouting career was dense and rigorous, and hopes to continue challenging himself through college and the rest of his life.

Adam has earned 29 merit badges: Basketry, Camping*, Chess, Citizenship in the Community*, Citizenship in the Nation*, Citizenship in the World*, Communications*, Computers, Cooking*, Electricity, Environmental Science*, Family Life*, Fingerprinting, First Aid*, Geology, Indian Lore, Leatherwork, Lifesaving*, Model Design and Building, Music, Personal Fitness*, Personal Management*, Photography, Pottery, Railroading, Robotics, Scholarship, Swimming*, Wood Carving. (*indicates Eagle-required merit badges).

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Adam's Eagle Project

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Adam received special acknowledgements from Councilman Michael dePierro on behalf of the Township Council, Parsippany Rotary Club, Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, Assemblyman Jay Webber and Senator Joe Pennacchio; Frank Cahill, President Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany; Richard Kunz on behalf of Parsippany VFW Post 10184; Albert Clark, Parsippany Knights of Columbus 3680; and Executive Board Member Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce Frank Cahill and Board Member Nicolas Limanov.

Boy Scout Troop 177 retires their flag in June 2014 and merged into Troop 72. Starting in 1961, between Troop 72 and Troop 177 there were 88 young men receiving their “Eagle Scout.” Here is a list of “Eagle Scouts:”

Jack Robinson, Troop 72; Jeffrey Benson, Troop 72; Ralph Wright, Troop 72; Wayne Grosnick, Troop 72; Leonard Cooke, Troop 72; Michael Cooke, Troop 72; William Cooke, Troop 72; Lee Burgess, Troop 72; Rich Karlson, Troop 72; Dave Peloubet, Troop 72; Jeffrey Glenn Troop, 72; Les O’Neil, Troop 72; Larry Bergus, Troop 72; Darryl Pronko, Troop 72; Bruce Ganek, Troop 72; James W. Kelly, Troop 72; Ian “Mitch” Rosenblum, Troop 72; Carl Jacobs, Troop 72; Richard Tress Troop, 72; Paul Spergel, Troop 72; Steven Chun, Troop 72; Ian Golton, Troop 72; Andrew Sadowski, Troop 72; John Thompson, Troop 177; Scott Smith, Troop 72; Brian Smith, Troop 72; Richard Tkach, Troop 177; Robert Vogel, Troop 72; David Grabell, Troop 72; Edward Ballo, Troop 72; Matthew Wetstein, Troop 177; Charles Chaffee, Troop72; Keith Olson, Troop 72; Demetrios Benos, Troop 72; Timothy Booth, Troop 72; Edward Pursell, Troop 177; Jason Ledakowich, Troop 72; Tommy Hayner, Troop 72; Jason Weinstein, Troop 177; Scott Dubnoff, Troop 177; Peter Newman, Troop 72; Andrew Pursell, Troop 177; Shuan Gonzalez, Troop 72; Matthew Caulfield, Troop 72; Michael Nicosia, Troop 177; Garthon Rowley, Troop 72; Joseph Calafiore, Troop 177; Salvatore DeFilippo, Troop 177; Victor Jacobia, Troop 177; Michael Banom, Troop 177; Christopher Lysenko, Troop 177; Matthew Nicosia, Troop 177;Thomas Ludwig, Troop 177; John Banom, Troop 177; Patrick Banom, Troop 177; Kevin Bogaert, Troop72; Christopher Ottesen, Troop 177; Anthony DeZenzo, Troop 177; Kevin Owens, Troop 72; Kyle Welge, Troop 177; Christopher Caulfield, Troop 72; Michael Caulfield, Troop 72; Christopher Thomas, Troop 72; Vincent Li, Troop 177; Thomas Gizas, Troop 177; Andrew Ludwig, Troop 177; Rigel Turdiu, Troop 177; Kurt Welge, Troop177; Brian Recciha, Troop 72; Kiernan Boone, Troop 177; Matthew Hubner, Troop 177; Brian Mitchell, Troop 72; Robert Moroz, Troop 72; John Shandra, Troop 177; Matthew Corrente, Troop 177; Sean Levorse, Troop 177; Michael Kertesz, Troop 72; Nick Corrente, Troop 177; Alex Bamert, Troop 72; Brendan Shanahan, Troop 72; Andrew Goetschkes, Troop 72; Daniel Bamert, Troop 72; Jonathan Kennet, Troop 72; Crin Uricoli, Troop 72; Keith Hawkins, Jr, Troop 72; Thomas Goetchskes, Troop 72 and Adam Warner, Troop 72.

PARSIPPANY — Fireworks exploded at the June 1 and June 13 budget hearings with Township CFO Ann Cucci and Business Administrator Ellen Sandman blasting their former boss, James Barberio with words like ‘irresponsible’ and ‘horrible’ when referring to the 2017 budget and it’s 0% tax increase. During his eight years in office, Barberio was able to show no increase in taxes twice; 2013 and 2017, years he was up for re-election. Taxes increased substantially in the years following his flatted-lined budgets.

On June 1, when asked by Council Vice President McCarthy why there is a 3.5% proposed increase for 2018, when zero was attained in 2017, CFO Cucci stated “I’ll say this about last year [2017] now. It was the most irresponsible, horrible budget I’ve ever done. I rest my case…There was no such thing as zero. I fought.  Ellen [Sandman] fought. We did not want it. I know the council didn’t want it. I know Mr Carifi. He didn’t want it as well.  Some people voted for it because they felt it was the right thing to do. Did I?  No. And did Ellen? No.”

Sandman followed Cucci by adding “I said there is no such thing as a zero and I thank you council president [Carifi] for voting no.  I’m sorry, I’m so emotional about this because now the exponential effect of this is, is to the moon. We have cut things, revenue sources. One source is where you try to keep them there for that rainy day. They’re gone…” (Editors Note: To view video and recording from June 1 meeting, click here. These quotes can be found at approximately 49 minutes into the tape).

The proposed 3.5% increase only affects the municipal portion of your tax bill, which is approximately 20% of the total real estate tax.

With the 2017 budget remaining flat, and 2017 expenses, including hefty medical and legal bills deferred to this current year, municipal taxes are expected to increase 3.5% or $64.38 for the average homeowner. In 2016, under Mayor Barberio, taxes were raised 4.2% or $74.21 for the average homeowner. (Click here to view the 2016 budget).

Former Councilman Louis Valori, who voted in favor of the budget in 2016 and 2017 attended the June 13 budget hearing and questioned the current proposed hike by stating  “We’re at a 3.5% which I think is unheard of, probably historical in this town” forgetting that as Council President in 2016 he lauded the 4.2% increase as a responsible budget. (Click here to read related article –
Council VP Indicates Budget is Smoke and Mirrors Presented by Mayor Barberio).

(Editors Note: Mr. Valori denies the 2016 budget increase was 4.2%. He has attacked this author on various social media outlets. Here is a clipping from the budget that shows the increase of 4.2% and the effect it has on the average residential tax payment).

While former township attorney John Inglesino once coined the term “Louie the Liar” when referring to Mr. Valori, several officers in Town Hall today when this author was in attendance of police promotions in the Council Chambers referred to Mr. Valori as “4 point two Lou.”

Council President Paul Carifi, Jr., said “When the finance committee consisting of myself and Councilwoman McCarthy first met with Business Administrator Ellen Sandman andCFO Mrs. Cucci, we were advised of the horrible situation former Mayor Barberio and Former Councilman President Valori left us in with their so-called zero budget that they came up with last year.  Barberio also used over 3 million dollars from the sewer and water utility surplus which was over $1 million more than the previous year. By him not planning ahead for mandatory pension and insurance payments for our employees, as per Mrs. Sandman and Mrs. Cucci, for this year which totals $900,000, taxes need to be raised by just over 2% just to cover those costs let alone other cost of living increases. I knew this was going to happen and that is why I voted no for last year’s budget. With that being said myself along with councilwoman McCarthy and Mayor Soriano came up with hundreds of thousands of dollars in reductions from the original budget which reduced the current budget to where it is now which our Township Auditor, Mr. Raymond Sarinelli, Mrs. Sandman and Mrs. Cucci have all stated it is trimmed to the bare bone. At our last budget meeting I questioned our auditor Mr. Sarinelli as well as Mrs. Cucci and Mrs. Sandman and asked them point-blank are we in this situation where we need to increase the budget 3.5% because of what former Mayor Barberio’s budget did to our finances and all three agreed that yes it has. I also asked Sandman and Cucci if it is true that we would have to cut services to our residents and  eliminate  a substantial number of employees to get the budget under 2% and they said yes. I am strongly opposed to reducing essential services to our residents which also could include our police protection in our schools because former Mayor Barberio  mismanaged the town’s budget. You can not put a price on the protection of our children and our residents in addition to the services we offer our residents.  I am certainly not happy about the current increase, but unfortunately  because of this situation we were left in we don’t have much of a choice.”

When asked after the officer promotion ceremony, Mayor Soriano stated, “Some, including those who voted for a 4.2% tax increase just two years ago, will oppose this budget purely for political gain. The fact is that this bipartisan budget is the first major step in repairing the damage done to our finances by consecutive election years of raising spending without raising revenue.”