Golf Club Gets Mulligan for $132K Water, Sewer Debt
Town Council approves erasing amount owed by Knoll.
Photos
The Parsippany Town Council voted 4-1 to cancel the financially struggling Knoll Golf Utility's debt to the water and sewer utility at its Tuesday night regular meeting at Town Hall.
The issue was briefly mentioned at the Dec. 11 council agenda meeting.
Councilman Michael dePierro, who is the body's Knoll liaison, said in the past, when the golf club routinely operated with surpluses, the township sometimes used some of the utility's excess funds to offset deficits in other areas of municipal government. Wiping away the debt, he said, would make things even and reduce the burden hanging over the golf club.
A resolution authorizing the erasure of the Knoll Country Club's 2012 water and sewer receivable balances, as expected, came up during this Tuesday's meeting.
The document outlined the debt, which covered expenses for both Knoll East and West clubs, including water intensive irrigation projects. The water debt in all was listed as $128,159.39; due for sewer fees was $3,766.32. The overall total was $131,925.71.
Councilman Jonathan Nelson objected to the debt cancellation.
"Last week, I made a motion to defer payment until such time that the golf utility could afford to pay its water bill," he recalled. "It wasn't seconded.
"I feel cancelling out a debt from one utility to another isn't the proper way to do things," he explained. "Most years, the golf utility runs a surplus. There was no reason why, when it was experiencing better [financial] times, that it couldn't pay its share of the water bill."
Nelson said the payment could have been paid back over years, if necessary, once the golf utility again was solvent.
Patch's queries to the administration regarding how much the Knoll is in arrears were not answered.
"As it stands, about $132,000 was cancelled out—without discussion," he said.
In This article
-
Township Council Regular Meeting
February 14, 2012 / March 20, 2012 / April 10, 2012 / May 15, 2012 / June 19, 2012 / July 17, 2012 / August 21, 2012 / September 18, 2012 / October 16, 2012 / November 27, 2012 / December 18, 2012 at 7:30 pm -
Parsippany-Troy Hills Town Hall
1001 Parsippany Blvd, Parsippany, NJ
clyde donovan
12:01 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012
What a scam. This should be investigated by the US Attorney.
Mark
12:21 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012
That is completely bizarre.
So if they don't need the 132K, I guess they don't need my $100 next time around?
Ed Dantes
12:32 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012
I knew there was a reason I voted for Jonathan Nelson! Seems he's the only one that knows how to handle the towns cash flow. Hey Town Council and Mr. Mayor, I could certainly use the money I pay in taxes, water and sewers to cover some other bills. Are you going to give me a free pass? It won't cost anywhere near 132K.
Harland
8:02 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012
So if the Knoll Country Club isn't paying for this, I guess that means the taxpayers are.
Pete
10:03 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Do you feel a hand in your pocket ?? You should !! I think it was Boss Tweed who said that holding political office was like having a licence to steal.
joe raich
2:36 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
The Knoll is fiscally independent. 4 of 5 councilmen got it wrong.No wonder why taxpayers feel abused in Parsippany.
Reality Checker
9:20 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Does that mean I get to play golf (green and cart fees for free) as I am still paying my water bill and over 10K in taxes? Really? No discussion just a $132K write off -- this is another great write up come election time to vote these crooks out of office. Never have I seen a more incompetent and crooked bunch of elected officials. Definitely getting the word out come election time to point out all the incompetence. Thanks for not doing your job once again and serving those that are paying you to represent them. Putting you all up for re-election in 2013 in front of Donald Trump for the YOUR FIRED speech.
Mike Panico
10:55 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
Thank You Councilman Nelson for standing firm and voting the right way. Even though you were the lone vote, people won't soon forget.
Mike Panico
11:02 pm on Thursday, December 20, 2012
I almost missed the best part. The kicker is that Nelson couldn't get anyone else to even second his motion. Aye Ya. Fun times return to Parsippany.
bill whitney
7:49 pm on Sunday, December 23, 2012
i cant believe de piero is still in there. i dont know why they could'nt just raise the greens fees. noooo, just soak the taxpayer. if these morons arent voted out next term then the people of parsippany deserve what they get !!!
John Meyer
8:46 pm on Sunday, December 23, 2012
Looks like the councilmen and their friends and families will get a free pass for their rounds of golf next year. That should help them get back on their feet and solvent...
One hand washes the other in politics.