Par-Troy Council Mistakenly Announces Adoption of Defeated Ordinance

A bond ordinance allocating funds for sewer utility improvements, which seemingly passed during Tuesday night's Parsippany-Troy Hills Council meeting, did not in fact receive enough votes to pass, according to town officials.

The ordinance would have appropriated $4,400,000 for sewer utility improvements including a “4 mgd upgrade, a pump station #4 upgrade to include a Lake Hiawatha Study, lab renovations and the purchase of a tanker, including all structures, work, equipment and materials.”

As a bond ordinance, a two-thirds majority was needed to pass the measure. Councilman Michael DiPierro was absent from the meeting, and Councilman Jonathan Nelson voted against the measure.

“There is no need to incur any debt when the project could have been paid for out of the surplus money,” said Nelson, who added that the sewer surplus is around $10 million.

“The purpose of maintaining the surplus is so we can pay for improvements,” he said. “If we are going to keep this kind of surplus then we don't need a bond, I'm voting no.”

Council President Brian Stanton, Council Vice President Ferrara and Councilman Paul Carifi Jr. all voted in favor, registering a 3-1 vote for the ordinance.

However, Stanton “misspoke” and said the measure passed, said Nelson.

Parsippany Municipal Clerk Yancy Wazirmas also confirmed that the ordinance was defeated.