Letter to the Editor: Councilman Responds to Mayor's Accusation

In this Letter to the Editor, Township Council member Michael dePierro shares his response to regarding the mayor's decision to go ahead with an appointment to create a fourth Parsippany Police captain rather than enter another debate of the matter with the full council. 

So the mayor called me a liar!

I guess that he forgot that no councilman may speak for, or vote for, the entire Township Council. I admitted, for the record, that I had agreed with the police chief at our meeting. But upon arriving home, I was still not comfortable withhaving a fourth police captain.

I called the mayor and chief and told them that I still had trouble supporting a fourthcaptain. I had assumed that the entire Township Council would discuss the matter further at our Township Council meeting. I believed the mayor when he promised that no promotions would be made until the council could discuss it further.

Not only did the mayor break his promise, he arrogantly did the swearing-in at the Township Council meeting before any councilman could speak. This kind of arrogance should not be displayed between a Republican mayor and an all-Republican council. It sends the wrong message.

I regret that this issue tarnished Capt. Storms' ceremony. He is a fine police officer with a fine record. This issue had nothing to do with him personally and I congratulate him on his promotion.

This issue is not dead. Four councilmen voted to have an ordinance drafted which will limit the police department to three captains. Since we already have four captains, I anticipate that the ordinance, if passed, would take effect when one of the captains retire or get promoted.

Councilman Michael dePierro